A Tale of the Kloster: A Romance of the German Mystics of the Cocalico

"A Tale of the Kloster: A Romance of the German Mystics of the Cocalico" by Brother Jabez is a historical fiction novel that transports readers to 18th-century Pennsylvania where German mystics have created a home for themselves. The story centers around Johann Peter Müller, a former minister, who finds his way to the semi-monastic community at Ephrata. Müller, drawn by what he believes to be a divine calling, grapples with prejudice and his own doubts as he embraces a life of spirituality and seclusion. He finds an abandoned child in the woods, names the child, Sonnlein, and adopts the child. The story explores his bond with the child and the other members of the community while contrasting the lives of hermits and society. He ultimately commits to the Kloster, setting the stage for a journey of faith, transformation, and community as the book plays out.