Der Schimmelreiter

"The Rider on the White Horse," which Storm completed shortly before his death, is the poet's most outstanding novella. In it, Theodor Storm depicts the rise of Hauke Haien to the position of dyke master. He aims to prove his abilities by constructing an innovative dyke, as it is said that he owes his position solely to his wife. Tensions and the struggle with his environment ultimately lead to Hauke Haien's downfall: when he fails to secure a weak point in the dyke adequately, his wife and child drown during a storm surge. In despair, he throws himself and his white horse into the sea at the breached section of the dyke to atone for his guilt. As in his earlier novellas, Storm moves away from the issue of personal guilt in this captivating symphony of sea voices. An afterword and detailed notes assist the student.