Toney is a young man who has been raised by his grandmother, a kind and gentle woman. Despite her best efforts to teach him good values, Toney grows up to be a selfish and unscrupulous person, always looking out for his own interests without regard for others. He marries a poor but honest woman named Lina, who is deeply in love with him, but he treats her cruelly and neglects her. Eventually, Lina dies of a broken heart, leaving Toney alone and unrepentant. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of selfishness and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
By Berthold Auerbach · First published 1879 · Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance