The story revolves around a young nobleman who becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman he meets at a ball. He learns that she has the power to charm men into loving her unconditionally and that she uses this power for her own amusement. As the young man becomes more deeply entangled in their relationship, he begins to realize that his love is not reciprocated by the woman, but rather she is using him as a pawn in her game of seduction.
By Johann Ludwig Tieck · First published 1799 · Genre: Romanticism, Fantasy, Gothic