Founded in 1846, Fredericksburg, Texas, was established by German noblemen who enticed thousands of their compatriots to flee their overcrowded homeland with the prospect of free land in a place that was portrayed as a new Garden of Eden. Few of the settlers, however, were prepared for the harsh realities of the Texas frontier or for confrontation with the Comanche Indians. In his 1867 novel Friedrichsburg, Friedrich Armand Strubberg, a.k.a. Dr. Schubbert, interwove his personal story with a fictional romance to capture the flavor of Fredericksburg, Texas, during its founding years when he served as the first colonial director.
Now available in a contemporary translation, Friedrichsburg brings to life the little-known aspects of life among these determined but often ill-equipped settlers who sought to make the transition to a new home and community on the Texas frontier. Opening just as a peace treaty is being negotiated between the German newcomers and the Comanches, the novel describes the unlikely survival of these fledgling homesteads and provides evidence that support from the Delaware Indians, as well as the nearby Mormon community of Zodiac, was key to the Germans’ success. Along the way, Strubberg also depicts the laying of the cornerstone to the Vereins Kirche, the blazing of an important new road to Austin, exciting hunting scenes, and an admirable spirit of cultural cohesion and determined resilience. In so doing, he resurrects a fascinating lost world.
Chuckle along with this interesting novel. Written by "Dr." Schubbert about the very young settlement of Friedrichsburg, this book is entertaining on it's own but when enjoyed with a background of Stubberg and his interactions with John O. Musebach it is a super fun character study of the man. For a good base knowledge of what makes this book so great, I suggest reading the biography John O. Muesebach and Nassau Plantation.
- Hardcover: 312 pages
- Publisher: University of Texas Press; Translation edition (May 1, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0292737696
- ISBN-13: 978-0292737693
- Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches