Heimkehr in die Fremde

The novel depicts a year in the life of student Hans Staudler, who aspires to become a lawyer to later work in his father's office. Aside from studying, sports, and romantic interests with women, Hans has little else that captivates him. This changes when Willi, his best friend, dies in a car accident in which Hans is not entirely uninvolved. On the same evening, a painter appears in Hans' apartment and shows him portraits that remind him of his deceased friend, as well as others depicting a woman named Hannah. Hans is later able to communicate with Hannah, who becomes his ideal image of a woman.

A journey from Egypt to Morocco becomes a turning point for Hans, who wants to escape societal pressures and his parents' expectations. Left alone in the Libyan desert, he barely manages to reach the coast, where fishermen rescue him with their boat. In Crete, he finds refuge in a monastery and later with a family. Not entirely willingly, he marries Maria, whose daughter he takes with him to Switzerland. Life in Switzerland proves to be significantly more challenging for the young couple than they had hoped. Their differing cultural backgrounds and desires become increasingly incompatible, leading to a dramatic confrontation.