Countess Erika's Apprenticeship

"Countess Erika's Apprenticeship" by Ossip Schubin is a story set in the late 1800s, following the life of Erika, stepdaughter to Baron von Strachinsky, as she grows up amidst her family's problems. Erika's mother struggles, and Erika begins to understand the world while also building relationships within her troubled family. The story begins with the Baron's financial issues after a failed project, pushing his wife Emma to seek help from their family. Erika is a thoughtful child who is already working to understand the complex world around her. She notices her stepfather's unkindness towards a young artist, which stirs strong feelings. As she feels for the artist and rebels against how her stepfather treats him, the story hints at her forming values and the difference between innocence and her family's harsh realities. This beginning launches Erika on her life journey as she deals with the expectations of her family and society.