To those unfamiliar with the history of Luther and his times, the titleof this unique work may not sufficiently indicate its character.
The design of the author is to so reproduce the times of the Reformationas to place them more vividly and impressively before the mind of thereader than has been done by ordinary historical narratives.
She does this with such remarkable success, that it is difficult torealize we are not actually hearing Luther and those around him speak.We seem to be personal actors in the stirring scenes of that eventfulperiod.
One branch of the Cotta family were Luther's earliest, and ever after,his most intimate friends. Under the title of "Chronicles" our authormakes the members of this family, (which she brings in almost livingreality before us), to record their daily experiences as connected withthe Reformation age.
This Diary is fictitious, but it is employed with wonderful skill inbringing the reader face to face with the great ideas and factsassociated with Luther and men of his times, as they are given to us byaccredited history, and is written with a beauty, tenderness and powerrarely equalled.
I. Elsè's Story.
II. Extracts from Friedrich's Chronicle.
III. Elsè's Chronicle.
IV. Extracts from Friedrich's Chronicle.
V. Elsè's Chronicle.
VI. Friedrich's Story.
VII. Elsè's Story.
VIII. Fritz's Story.
IX. Elsè's Story.
X. Fritz's Story.
XI. Eva's Story.
XII. Elsè's Story.
XIII. Eva's Story.
XIV. Elsè's Story.
XV. Fritz's Story.
XVI. Elsè's Story.
XVII. Eva's Story.
XVIII. Thekla's Story.
XIX. Fritz's Story.
XX. Thekla's Story.
XXI. Eva's Story.
XXII. Elsè's Story.
XXIII. Atlantis' Story.
XXIV. Eva's Story.
XXV. Thekla's Story.
XXVI. Fritz's Story.
XXVII. Eva's Story.
XXVIII. Elsè's Story.
XXIX. Eva's Story.
XXX. Elsè's Story.
XXXI. Thekla's Story.
XXXII. Elsè's Story.
XXXIII. Thekla's Story.
XXXIV. The Mother's Story.
XXXV. Eva's Agnes's Story.
XXXVI. Thekla's Story.
...