A Word, Only a Word — Complete

"A Word, Only a Word — Complete" by Georg Ebers is a historical fiction novel that begins with young Ulrich and his kind friend Ruth in the forest, pondering the power of words and perhaps, magic. Their innocent talk hints at a wish to make significant changes in their lives, fueled by Ulrich’s issues with his mother and both of their desires to improve the world around them. While gathering firewood, they imagine words so strong they could grant wishes; Ruth dreams of her mother speaking, while Ulrich craves adventure and importance as he engages in fantasy. Their story highlights social issues, showing Ulrich’s difficult family life and Ruth’s Jewish background, revealing how different experiences affect how they see the world and each other.