Frucht- und Dornenstücke Blumen- oder Ehestand

Blumen-, Frucht- und Dornenstücke, oder Ehestand, Tod und Hochzeit des Armenadvokaten Fr. St. Siebenkäs im Reichsmarktflecken Kuhschappel, a novel by Jean Paul first published in 1796-7, commonly abbreviated to Siebenkäs. The poor man's lawyer Siebenkäs marries, and his bride Lenette believes him to be poor. In fact, he has a substantial legacy, which is in the hands of his guardian Blaise, but Blaise cheats him and the marriage comes into financial straits. Everard Rosa seeks unsuccessfully to seduce Lenette; Siebenkäs's jealousy is aroused and the young couple become estranged. Siebenkäs's friend Leibgeber hatches a plan by which Siebenkäs is to begin a new life by simulating illness and death. Leibgeber spirits Siebenkäs away and he becomes steward to Count Vaduz and falls in love with Natalie, a niece of Blaise. On revisiting Kuhschappel he finds that Lenette is dead and at her grave he encounters Natalie. They mourn together and their hearts are united. The book closes with a meditation on immortality headed Rede des toten Christus vom Weltgebäude herab, daß kein Gott sei. A comprehensive edition by K. Pauler appeared in 1991.