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When Andreas Egger reaches the village on the night that he tries to save Hannes, the goatherd, he goes into the inn and meets Marie - the only love of his life - for the first time. Romance and grief and a sometimes wry stoicism are the touchstones of Egger’s solitary life as the 20th century unfolds around him.

The modern world encroaches slowly on the valley, the forest is carved out for ski lifts, electricity arrives, and tourists too. But throughout it all, Egger remains steadfast in his modest struggle to survive and in his ever constant respect for the landscape around and above him.

Robert Powell reads Austrian Robert Seethaler's novel.

Omnibus of five episodes abridged by Jennie Howarth.

This ‘slim masterpiece’ (Daily Mail) went straight onto the bestseller lists in Germany. Jim Crace called it both 'heart-rending and heart-warming', and over 200,000 people have read and celebrated this book across Europe.

Translated by Charlotte Collins
Producer: Elizabeth Davies
A Waters Company production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 first broadcast in October 2015.