Dance of Death

18 hrs. 24 min.

Romance & Prose

Language Russian

Author Bernhard Kellermann

Narrator Evgeny Ternovsky

Description

The novel “The Dance of Death” by the famous German humanist writer Bernhard Kellermann depicts the rise to power of the Nazis and the events of World War II. With great authenticity, the writer recreates the seething atmosphere of the “Third Reich,” showing the brutal suppression of democratic freedoms and the bloody reprisals against everyone who is dissatisfied. “The Dance of Death” entered the golden fund of German and world anti-fascist literature.

After returning from a long illness vacation, Frank Fabian, an attorney and syndicate figure of the city in question, immediately felt a sharp change in the surrounding conditions.

The express train he arrived on was an hour late. Fabian reached home only after midnight. He was pleasantly surprised to find that the maid Martha hadn’t gone to bed yet. Hearing his footsteps on the stairs, she hurried to open the door. He thanked her for having waited for him, and asked her to bring red wine for dinner—smiling, as he explained, he wanted to celebrate his return home.

“Madam Fabian, perhaps you’re already asleep?” he asked as he took off his coat in the entryway. He spoke under his breath so as not to wake his wife—a very nervous lady suffering from insomnia.

“Yes, madam went to bed early today,” Martha replied, and went to get the wine.

Fabian was in an excellent mood. He was happy to be home again and playfully rubbed his hands, enjoying the warmth and comfort: on the way from the station he had ridden in a cab and gotten chilled. Even the special smell that belongs to any human dwelling now pleased him. He’d gotten used to it being absent during his four months away.

At last he could feel it again!

From the entryway, Fabian went into his study and turned on all the lamps. Nothing had changed here: colorful rows of books he was proud of, a few paintings, and familiar knickknacks. At last he was home! Above all, Fabian valued comfort and peace. On the writing desk, letters lay in a stack—he quickly scanned the addresses of the senders on the envelopes.