Title: Das gelbe Tuch

Author: Priska Lo Cascio

Pages: 397

Dear reader,

Today I am presenting you with a German historic fiction, taking place around 1460 around Nuremburg area.

Anna grew up in a trader family and was privileged to receive an education at one of the nunneries. Then, when it didn’t go well for the family, the two brothers sent her to be on her own, since the family had lost all their financial resources. She ends up in Nuremburg, but has no opportunities for employment and therefore ends up becoming a lady in a formal brothel establishment.

One day Endres returns to Nuremburg with a mission from his lord from a different location. He is instructed to learn the mood of the city and also spy on them to determine how far they have come to make preparations for a possible conflict. To hide himself at night he ends up at the brothel, where he meets Anna and pays to stay with her for the night. He tells her she can tell him about herself and that he has no interest to engage in her services, which stuns her since she hasn’t had such a customer before. This goes on for the next few days until one day Endres leaves Nuremburg.

After reporting the situation in Nuremburg to his lord, he returns to Nuremburg to continue spying on the city for the upcoming week, since his lord would now set his plan into action. Furthermore, he is instructed to kill a particular individual that would make Nuremburg’s defenses suffer later on. Endres has once again paid to stay with Anna at the brothel and she tells him more about herself. His last night at the place he returns late at night, injured badly from his mission. Anna realizes that Endres is more than simply a guest, but helps him cover his wounds anyway. The following morning he plans to leave the city but not before telling Anna that she should prepare herself for what’s coming. Also, that he would come back for her and bring her with him.

Endres’ lord has called upon his followers to attack the alliance of German states, since he wishes to grow his reign and take over some states. Nuremburg is not directly hit during the first phase, but only hears of the events from messengers and trades men. More soldiers and mercenaries have started to arrive in the city which means that the brothel’s clientele has shifted from mostly tradesmen to mercenaries. These prove to be less respectful and the girls more than once end up injured when they return home.

One evening, Anna is briskly woken up by one of her co-workers. There is a lot of smoke in the room and in a moment she realizes that the house is on fire. They rush to the other rooms and try to get as many out as possible, together with their few possessions. However, they all only manage to save themselves, without any of their personal property, with the exception of three members.

Over the next few days Anna and three of her friends went to beg on the streets, but eventually accepted an offer to work at the other brothel, as their living conditions on the streets worsened. The brothel-keeper presents them with the terms of working for him, which are cut-throat, but they accept them since they are better than nothing.

The weeks pass, the conflict outside carries on and life has become hard for the people in the city. Since tradesmen have mostly avoided coming on the troubled roads, resources have become few and expensive. However, eventually, the war has ended as Endres’ lord has given up his prospects due to the many losses he has incurred.

Anna’s last friend is almost killed by the brothel keeper that she decides to inform herself whether the terms under which they are working are those that are prescribed by the city council. She requests to receive these terms and after a few weeks receives a copy with this information, only to discover that he has not met with majority of the rules. Anna therefore decides to open a complaint with the council so that it may be brought before the court and they be compensated properly.

Before the case starts, Endres has returned to the city and has informed the council that he would offer his services as a body guard to accompany the ladies to the court hearings. One day, another body guard is waiting at the brothel house, which Endres was unaware of, and they wait for Anna to come out. The other body guard turns out to be the former brothel keeper and wishes to kill Anna. However, they manage to overcome him and lead him to the court house once again. There, they call the council to commence the case proceedings immediately since he has almost killed a key witness.

The brothel keeper is sentenced to death and the women are compensated with the belongings of the former brothel keeper.

Anna and Endres decide to leave Nuremburg and live in a smaller town instead, where Anna can pursue her dream and have a garden with all kinds of herbs for healing.

Summary:

A story of unusual love but also interesting to see how different classes of society experienced the war that the elites fought to further their positions. Even in the most difficult circumstances, Anna was able to fight the injustice and managed to have justice come to fruition.

The book receives a rating of 3.9/5.

Link (German): https://amzn.to/4q8mi2g

Link (English): …