VonSchildermalernundUhrmachern

They led a hard life, the people in the high Black Forest in earlier times. The strenuous field and forest work had to be done during the summer months, as long as daylight allowed, and they had to endure the long, snowy winters time and again. Thanks to the inexhaustible inventive spirit of the forests, a vital secondary source of income emerged in home and farm production. Many were clockmakers or sign makers, and their products made the Black Forest world-famous. The increasing industrialization changed their professions and way of life. The novel is based on true events. It tells the story of a Black Forest family over several generations, focusing on their work and customs in their strictly Catholic faith-influenced lives.

The author was born in Furtwangen in the Black Forest. Many of his ancestors were involved in clockmaking. Ronald Holzmann studied German and music for teaching at secondary schools. He worked at various secondary schools in southern Baden from 1973 to 2013. From 1995 until his retirement, he was the principal of the secondary school at Mauracher Berg in Denzlingen.