Wilhelmine von Hillern (1836–1916) was a popular German novelist of the late nineteenth century, best known for her sentimental and religious fiction. On the Cross: A Romance of the Passion Play at Oberammergau draws on the centuries-old Bavarian tradition of the Oberammergau Passion Play — staged by the village community every decade — as a backdrop for its romantic and devotional narrative.
Translated into English and now in the public domain, the novel offers a window into the intersection of popular piety, theatrical culture, and domestic fiction in the German-speaking world of the 1800s. Readers interested in European religious literature or the history of the Passion Play tradition will find it a worthwhile period piece. This free EPUB edition can be downloaded and read on any device.