Armut, Reichtum, Schuld und Buße der Gräfin Dolores

Armut, Reichtum, Schuld und Buße der Gräfin Dolores, a novel published in 1810 by L. J. von Arnim. Dolores, daughter of a count who has fled the country, lives with her sister in poverty in a ruinous castle. She marries the wealthy Graf Karl and leads with him a spoilt and discontented life. She deceives him but afterwards repents and is forgiven. Her father, returning from India with new-won wealth, becomes minister at court and persuades the ruling princess to visit Dolores and her husband, who are now living in Sicily. The princess falls in love with Graf Karl, who nevertheless remains faithful to Dolores. Dolores, however, still troubled in conscience by her own earlier infidelity, believes that she has lost his love. She dies of grief, and the princess poisons herself.