The Goose Man

"The Goose Man" by Jakob Wassermann is a story set in the early 1900s, focusing on a weaver, Gottfried Nothafft, his son Daniel, and their hardship in a small German town. Struggling with the arrival of factories and their impact on traditional work, Gottfried dreams of a better life but finds himself battling poverty. The narrative shows the troubles of a family as industry threatens to destroys their way of life and the father struggles and hopes for a good future for his son. With the family facing financial ruin, Gottfried reveals a secret stash of money to his brother-in-law, Jason Philip Schimmelweis, with the hopes of securing Daniel's future and a better path. The opening reveals underlying family tension driven by ambition, poverty and hope.