The Jewish Book

Friedrich Mergel grows up in Westphalia in the mid-18th century. After his alcoholic father freezes to death in the woods, he goes to live with his uncle and his illegitimate son Johannes. Through shady dealings and thefts, they acquire money and status. Then Friedrich is publicly humiliated by the Jew Aaron, and he kills him under a beech tree in the forest. He flees and is captured during the war against the Turks. Only after 28 years does Friedrich return to his hometown unrecognized. However, his guilt torments him, and he ultimately hangs himself from the tree that has been known as the Jew's beech since the murder. Unabridged reading by Tatja Seibt.