The Count of Nideck adapted from the French of Erckmann-Chartrian

"The Count of Nideck" by Ralph Browning Fiske and Erckmann-Chatrian is a historical fiction written around 1780 that follows Gaston's journey to Nideck Castle, called there by his foster father, Gideon Sperver. The Count of Nideck is suffering from a strange illness, with episodes of madness brought on by an old woman referred to as the "Black Plague." The illness is connected to the family's history and the Count's desperation for his daughter, Countess Odile, to marry as a possible cure. Gaston arrives at the castle, learning quickly about family duty and expected to help navigate the conflict between the Count and Countess regarding her potential arranged marriage, as the story explores generational tensions, family duty, and looming old mysteries