"Een Droom" by Henri Borel is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the character Rudolf de Wall, a melancholic poet struggling with despair and illness, who is brought to the idyllic mountain town of Tosari in Indonesia by his friend Henri, hoping that the serene environment and fresh air will rejuvenate his spirit and health. The narrative explores themes of nature’s healing power, existential contemplation, and
the contrasting realities of life. The opening of the novel sets up the backdrop of Rudolf’s plight, revealing his emotional turmoil following the death of his young wife, which has rendered him reclusive and disenchanted with life. As Henri recounts his memories with Rudolf, he underscores the importance of their friendship and the depths of Rudolf's despair. After much persuasion, Rudolf agrees to the journey to Tosari, where the beauty of the landscape and the refreshing mountain air promise to revive him. Upon arrival, he begins to react positively to his surroundings, rekindling his childhood joy as he revels in the breathtaking scenery. His connection to both the vibrant nature and his sister Mary, who cares for him, is highlighted, as well as hints at the underlying tension of Rudolf's unresolved grief and the fragility of life itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 79.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for project Gutenberg (prepared from scans made available by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague)
