Springtime of the Spirit
Read Springtime of the Spirit Online
Authors: Maureen Lang
Tags: #FICTION / Romance / Historical, #Historical Fiction
Praise for the Great War series
“Set in the French hamlet of Briecourt, [
Look to the East
] teems with conflict. . . . Lang’s novel is a cautionary tale as well as a romance within an exciting framework of war, secrets, and blissful reunions.”
Publishers Weekly
“Maureen Lang’s novel is a must read for all historical romance fans!”
Story Circle Book Reviews
“A story of love and courage that uplifts and inspires.”
freshfiction.com
“A wonderful read! I’ve come to expect excellent prose from Maureen Lang, and
Look to the East
doesn’t disappoint. It gives a glimpse into the past that will make you reflect upon the characters and the message long after you’ve finished reading.”
JUDITH MILLER
, best-selling author of
Somewhere to Belong
“Maureen Lang is a master storyteller! The plot kept me turning pages, and I found myself enraptured with the heroine’s desire for love and peace amid conflict. Highly recommended!”
TRICIA GOYER
, author of
Songbird Under a German Moon
“The characters are well written and well-rounded in this tale of romance and suspense.”
Romantic Times
“
Whisper on the Wind
shouts God’s goodness to His followers, even when His plan seems unknowable. . . . Lang has done an excellent job drawing her reader into World War I and the stories of the brave souls who fought and perished on both sides.”
Author’s Choice Reviews
“
Whisper on the Wind
brings to life a time and place too often forgotten in historical fiction. . . . The suspenseful climax kept me on the edge of my seat!”
LYNN AUSTIN
, best-selling author of
While We’re Far Apart
“
Whisper on the Wind
is a suspense-filled romance set in occupied Belgium during WWI. Lang has written an exciting page-turner, one that will have readers racing to reach the end so they can discover how it will turn out. I highly recommend this book.”
ROBIN LEE HATCHER
, best-selling author of
A Vote of Confidence
and
Fit to Be Tied
“The plot gripped me almost from the beginning. I loved the combination of action, adventure, and romance. . . . A good read for anyone who likes historical romances.”
Moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com
“[A] tale of bravery and intrigue that will keep your eyes glued to the story, page after page.”
Berlysue.blogspot.com
“The story is so well written, it keeps you glued to the pages and you find yourself going through a roller coaster of emotions—you laugh and you cry, and you just keep wanting more and more. A definite must read.”
Familycorner.blogspot.com
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Springtime of the Spirit
Copyright © 2011 by Maureen Lang. All rights reserved.
Cover photograph of buildings copyright © by Stephen Vosloo. All rights reserved.
Cover photograph of woman taken by Stephen Vosloo. Copyright © by Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Author photo copyright © 2005 by Jennifer Girard. All rights reserved.
Designed by Beth Sparkman
Edited by Sarah Mason
Published in association with the literary agency of WordServe Literary Group, Ltd., 10152 S. Knoll Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130.
Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holy Bible
, King James Version.
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lang, Maureen.
Springtime of the spirit / Maureen Lang.
p. cm. — (The Great War)
ISBN 978-1-4143-2437-1 (sc)
1. World War, 1914-1918—Veterans—Germany—Fiction. 2. Germany—Social conditions—1918-1933—Fiction. 3. Germany—History—1918-1933—Fiction.
I. Title.
PS3612.A554S67 2011
813'.6—dc22 2010047427
Dedicated to my three brothers,
David
,
Mark
, and
Patrick
, and my brother-in-law,
Jim
,
each of whom at one time or another inspired political “discussions” in my family.
For this model of political passion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
As with all my books, only my name shows up on the cover. In fact, my stories would barely be recognizable without the encouragement and insight of my two editors, Stephanie Broene and Sarah Mason. For this one especially, I am deeply grateful.
Germans who lived during those first ten postwar years talked of them afterwards as a time full of dangerous strains, yet too of hope and promise—a springtime of the spirit.
Terence Prittie,
Life World Library: Germany
, 1961, 1968
And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Micah 6:8
Glossary
A Summary of Terms:
By
bourgeoisie
is meant the class of modern
capitalists
, owners of the means of social production and employers of wage labour. By
proletariat
, the class of modern wage labourers who, having no means of production of their own, are reduced to selling their labour power in order to live.
F. Engels, note to the English edition of 1888,
The Communist Manifesto
by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Introduction
Once there was a country that wanted a turn being a great and mighty empire. They thought their freedom was at stake when the countries around them matched their race for armaments. To protect that freedom and to make a try for their mighty empire, they ordered their army—an army with a glorious history of excellence—to fight.
Despite all assurances that they would surely win, this country was defeated after all. And its people, shocked at losing a war they’d been told would be won, ripened for revolt against the leadership that had brought them not only the loss of so many men, but the scorn of the world.
Some were willing to allow more sacrifice, but no longer from the workers and soldiers who had already given so much.
Some wanted a better nation through finding a better part of themselves.
This is the story of two such people.
