I know that the second week of German Literature Month is dedicated to German crime fiction. But I thought I will read more of one of the authors whom I discovered last week, first, before tackling some German crime fiction. I loved Theodor Storm’s ‘Immensee’ when I read it last week. So, this week I thought I will read Storm’s ‘The Rider on the White Horse’ which was recommended to me by Caroline from Beauty is a Sleeping Cat, who is hosting German Literature Month with Lizzy from Lizzy’s Literary Life. I got Storm’s book and read it today. I finished it sometime back. Here is what I think.
What I think
‘The Rider on the White Horse’ is a story set in a small North German village. It is told by a narrator, who seems to be the author, but we are not sure. The narrator says that he read this story half a century ago, in his great-grandmother’s place, in a newspaper. The story in the newspaper is told by another storyteller. This storytelling traveller is riding through a storm, despite his friend warning him to stay back in the warmth of the home, because he has some urgent business. On the way, he suddenly sees a ghostly white horse with a rider brushing past him in the opposite direction. The horse and the rider come back and pass him again. In a short while, the storyteller arrives at a village inn. He goes in and discovers that a few people – the dykemaster and a few dyke overseers – are having a conversation. He joins them. After a short while he tells them about the white horse and the strange horseman. Everyone becomes silent. When the traveller asks them about it, the dykemaster says that there is a story behind the white horse and its rider. The dykemaster asks the local village schoolmaster to tell the story. While the storm rages outside, the schoolmaster tells the story of Hauke Haien, how he was a lonely and an intelligent boy, how he got interested in mathematics, design and related topics, how he went to work at the place of the dykemaster of that time and how he fell in love with the dykemaster’s daughter Elke. The schoolmaster’s story goes on to tell the story of Hauke and Elke, how they get married and how Hauke becomes the dykemaster after many years, realizing his dream and how he planned a major project of building a new dyke, how it turned out to be a tremendous success but made a lot of people in the village suspicious of him and how a small flaw in the dyke and the violence of nature lead to disastrous consequences in the end.
‘The Rider on the White Horse’ evokes the haunting atmosphere of the North Frisian landscape, with its farms, dykes, storms and floods. I liked that aspect of the book very much. It also gives an interesting picture of North Frisian people and their culture. The book also contrasts reason with superstition – Hauke Haien wants to use logic while building a dyke, while the people of the village who are working with him are superstitious and suspect him. Many haunting visions appear throughout the story – the ghostly horse with its strange rider, a mermaid, strange creatures that Hauke sees near the dyke, when he is young, and which he sees again later, when he comes there as an adult with his young daughter. We are not sure whether these visions are optical illusions or whether they actually are what they seem to indicate. The reader is expected to form his / her own conclusions based on which side of the divide he / she is in. The story has a sad ending – how can it be otherwise, when it happens in the middle of a storm?
I liked ‘The Rider on the White Horse’ for the haunting images it evokes. I can’t wait to read more of Storm’s novellas.
If you would like to read ‘The Rider on the White Horse’ online, you can find it here.
Have you read ‘The Rider on the White Horse’? What do you think about it?
I absolutely love “The Rider on the White Storm”. It’s perfect reading for a wild, wet, dark, windy night. As you can imagine, living in Scotland, I’ve read it many times …. with more rereads to come! 🙂
Glad to know that you like ‘The Rider on the White Horse’, Lizzy. I loved your description – “It’s perfect reading for a wild, wet, dark, windy night.” I can imagine you sitting in the Scottish highlands on a windy, stormy night, reading it 🙂
It sounds like an interesting book. I’ve bookmarked the link, thanks!
Glad to know that you find it interesting, Delia. Will look forward to hearing your thoughts on it, whenever you get around to reading it.
I’m so glad you liked it. I started it again the other day but had to abandon for a while but it’s exactly like you describe it. The landsacpe and the weather are of geat importance. It’s very atmospherical, gothic almost but still realistic. Storm was a writer of great talent.
That cover is great. It really conveys the atmosphere of the novella.
Thanks for recommending ‘The Rider on the White Horse’, Caroline 🙂 I liked it very much – especially the atmospheric and haunting feel of the story. Hope you are able to pick it up from where you left off. I love that cover too.
Oh thanks for the link to the story Vishy! That’s great. I am kind of a wimp though, and easily scared by scary stories, so I will make sure to read it during the DAY!
Hope you get to read this story and like it, Sarah. It is not so scary though it is a bit haunting. I know it sounds a bit contradictory, but I don’t know how else to express it.
I had attended a German Authors and Novels festival in our college a few months ago. There was a reading from Theodor Storm’s Der Schimmelreiter at that time. I guess this is the one; isn’t it funny how they have to have about five words in English for just one German word!!
I had loved the paragraph – it was a conversation about a white horse between two boys – Carsten and Iven. I haven’t read the novella, so I am not sure if I remember the names correctly!
Your review makes it sound really great. I am definitely going to check this out!!
It is wonderful to know about the German Literary Festival at your college! Envy you 🙂 Yes, this is ‘Der Schimmelreiter’. I agree with you – two german words have become six English words 🙂 Hope you get to read this book and like it. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.
nice review Vishy ,I ve not read anything by this writer ,although seen this book mentioned before ,all the best stu
Nice to know that you liked the review, Stu. Hope you get to read Storm’s books and like them.
I am also like Sarah. I shy away from scary stories. But since you have assured her that’s not scary as much as haunting, I will bravely attempt it! 😉
Hope you get to read this story and like it, Soul 🙂
Der Schimmelreiter is his best in my opinion, it’s so funny to see the English title 😀 Like you I loved the atmosphere!
Glad to know that you loved the atmosphere of ‘Der Schimmelreiter’, Bina. Yes, the English translation is a bit long-winded 🙂