Vom Wesen der Flüsse

They are lifelines and bearers of secrets, boundaries and trade routes, water reservoirs and power places. They bring both fertility and destruction, awakening nameless unease as well as consuming longing. Even though most rivers today are known, navigable by ship or paddle: the fascination for them and their stories remains unbroken. Stefan Schomann has traveled for years on and along rivers, from mighty currents like the Amazon to the tranquil Hase in Emsland. He dives into the source of the Sorgue, goes rafting in the Himalayas, explores the karst caves carved by the Reka, accompanies a sea rescuer in South Africa's Pondoland, and a bird whisperer on China's Nu Jiang. He indulges in some of the last primeval landscapes on Earth, but also wanders through mythological realms, dedicating himself to the rivers of paradise as well as those of the underworld. His narratives meander and flow. He seeks to understand the essence of water and explores global examples of a contemporary relationship with nature. Full of curiosity, he lingers with the people who live by the shores. And thus, one feels a great desire to follow in his footsteps and travel to the next river - or far away.