Das Sachsenkloster

The significance of the former monastery of Corvey, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, can only be understood in light of its origins, in the interplay of Frankish conquest and Saxon resistance: Christianity meets Germanic paganism, and the geopolitical ambitions of Charlemagne clash with the desire for freedom of the Saxon tribes. Author Hubertus Grimm brings these contrasts to life through the story of a Saxon family. Siblings Brun and Brunildis, along with their mother Oda, are separated during the turmoil of the Saxon Wars, which lasted over thirty years, and fate drives them in very different directions. After a long time, their paths cross again in close proximity to their original hometown near Brunsberg by Höxter. Despite taking literary liberties, Hubertus Grimm has oriented himself as closely as possible to the historical events, conveying a vivid picture of the Frankish conquest of Saxony and their efforts to integrate the Saxons into their empire.