About this book
Theodor Storm's "Bulemanns Haus" is a haunting German ghost story that explores the devastating consequences of greed, isolation, and moral corruption. After years abroad, Herr Bulemann returns to his hometown and inherits his father's house, along with a collection of pledged goods. Rather than honor his father's obligations, he sells the items illegally and spends years bribing desperate creditors to keep his crime secret. As his shameful past closes in, Bulemann becomes increasingly withdrawn, his only human contact a housekeeper who despises him. When he cruelly refuses aid to his ailing nephew, his grief-stricken sister curses him with her dying breath—a curse that unleashes something supernatural within the decaying house itself.
Set in a Northern German port city on the notorious Duesternstrasse, this atmospheric horror novella transforms a narrow, three-story mansion into a prison of the protagonist's own making. The mysterious black cats Bulemann brought from overseas become instruments of his eternal punishment, trapping him within the house's walls as it crumbles around him. Storm masterfully blends psychological terror with gothic atmosphere, creating a tale where supernatural horror emerges from human wickedness.
Perfect for listeners drawn to classic European horror and psychological fiction, "Bulemanns Haus" remains a chilling meditation on guilt, isolation, and the inescapable nature of conscience.
