From the Life of a Good-for-Nothing is like stepping into a delightful 18th-century painting accompanied by the music of Mozart. Every day is warm and sunny, with puffy white clouds, twittering birds, gorgeous flowers, and charming gardens. Sorrow and despair are never to be seen, while amusing characters pass in and out of the chapters. It is a charming world of beauty and adventure, which Eichendorff has created for us.
First published in 1826, this is one of the most famous and perennially popular novels to come out of Germany. It is a romantic novella whose main themes are love and voyage. Our hero leaves his father's mill and becomes a gardener at a Viennese castle, where he falls in love with the duke's daughter. The complications and Italian trip which ensue are a wonder of the romantic movement. It becomes a dream world of amazing power. You will want to listen to this story many times.
Download and start listening now!
"A lovely little book. 115 pages. German Romantic novella. Thoroughly satisfying. The convenient circumstances that might make a book feel predictable make this one feel mystically connected to the mission of the universe. Thank you, Henri, for recommending it." — Shipwreck1969 (5 out of 5 stars)
"A lovely little book. 115 pages. German Romantic novella. Thoroughly satisfying. The convenient circumstances that might make a book feel predictable make this one feel mystically connected to the mission of the universe. Thank you, Henri, for recommending it."
" As Im reading other early 19th century writers this seemed rather old-fashioned. It is short and sweet but didn't really get me very involved with the characters as it seemed to be a pale comparison to a Gothic novel or a Romance or even a Shakespeare play. I finished feeling that I had gained very little and that it was all very superficial. Disappointing. "
" I had to read it in school but it really showed me what ROMANTIC means. A wonderful romantic novel with the typical descriptions of nature and landscape. Impressing and beautifully written! "
" I thought this book was a little strange--strange in an unappealing way. It had some funny parts, though. "
" Classical novel about a young man discoovering the wide world. "
" A slight but sometimes funny picaresque novella, the adventures of a miller's son who doesn't want to work at the mill and hits the road with his wits (or lack thereof) and his violin. "
" Interesting, I'm going to check out more von Eichendorff, his prose is purdy. "
" Superlustig - seiner Zeit voraus. "
" A perfectly delightful novella, first published in 1826. I highly recommend it for a few hours of enjoyable reading. "
" Probably this is one of the most terrible editions, but the story beautifully catches the old Germany. "
" It's an old novel with an old life style which I don't like....the author tried to write a love story but I didn't feel it... "
" Delightful little book, it reads almost like a fairytale, complete with a happy ending. A sweet little musing on contentment, love, and belonging. "
" Always a favorite classic novella. Seems so harmless, and yet so deep. "
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.