The Gnomes of the Saline Mountains: A Fantastic Narrative

"The Gnomes of the Saline Mountains: A Fantastic Narrative" by Anna Goldmark Gross is a set of stories probably from the early 1900s. The stories take place during a huge flower boat parade on pretty lakes, blending together ideas of beauty, jealousy, and the interesting parts of how people relate to each other, especially looking at a strange woman who everyone notices. It starts with an exciting event at Traunsee, where everyone is excited for a flower boat parade, bringing in tourists and rich people from Vienna. A beautiful and mysterious woman dressed as Cleopatra gets everyone's attention, making a man nearby jealous. As the book hints at deeper issues, it brings up questions about love, money, and what is right, particularly as a character thinks about cheating and how relationships can fall apart. Also ,during a thunderstorm, a struggling man has hallucinations that include gnomes, seemingly thinking about his difficult past and how his choices have affected his family, which shows some big themes of regret and wanting things to be different.