Ludvigsbakke

by Herman Bang

"Ludvigsbakke" by Herman Bang is a novel published in 1896. It follows Ida Brandt, an unmarried nurse at a Copenhagen mental hospital, whose memories of her childhood on a Danish estate are reawakened when Karl von Eichbaum arrives. Their shared past ignites a romance, but Karl's affections cool as he pursues a wealthier match. Ida sacrifices her inheritance and reputation trying to hold onto him, descending into financial and social ruin while Karl betrays her trust and heart.