Margery (Gred): A Tale Of Old Nuremberg

In Short

Georg Ebers’s historical novel unfolds in late-medieval Nuremberg and across foreign lands, tracing the fortunes of the patrician Schopper family as they face financial ruin and the captivity of the eldest son, Herdegen, in Egypt. Driven by the resourcefulness of young Margery and her loyal circle, the household battles malicious intrigue, notably from the vengeful Ursula. Through steadfast fidelity, personal sacrifice, and the intervention of trusted friends, the family overcomes its trials. The book has endured as a vivid, richly detailed window into the domestic texture, civic pride, and romantic ideals of fifteenth-century German life.

The Story

The narrative opens in Nuremberg as the Schopper household confronts severe financial distress following the loss of wealth and the imprisonment of Herdegen by the Sultan in Egypt. Margery and her cousin Maud are forced to part with family servants, jewelry, and luxuries to raise funds, while loyal friends like Master Pernhart and Uncle Christian work behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Ursula’s malice keeps Herdegen’s letters from reaching home and places him in mortal peril, complicated further by the schemes of the gold-maker Abenberger and the absence of the wandering kinsman Gotz.

Matters take a turn when Uncle Christian and Master Pernhart travel to Augsburg to confront Ursula’s stubborn father, Jost Tetzel. Through sharp diplomacy and threats of imperial and papal wrath, they extract a bond from Tetzel renouncing Ursula’s inheritance and providing two thousand gulden toward Herdegen's ransom. Concurrently, faithful retainers and allies in Venice and Cairo—including Akusch and Eppelein—help track down the captives. Gotz returns from his long self-imposed exile beyond seas, bringing vital assistance. Through the diplomatic efforts of Venetian agents like Master Angelo Michieli, the heavy ransom for King Janus is beaten down, allowing Herdegen and Sir Franz to be set free.

Instead of returning immediately, the freed men journey to the Holy Land to fulfill penances enjoined by the Emperor. Margery, Ann, and their companions also undertake a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, witnessing the trials of the road and the lingering physical and mental toll on Herdegen and Sir Franz. Upon their eventual homecoming to Nuremberg, the emotional reunions are tempered by the visible ravages of hardship upon Herdegen. Ann, arrayed in the sapphire-blue of fidelity, embraces her changed and weakened lover without dismay, vowing to stand by him.

The concluding years bring both sorrow and profound fulfillment. Herdegen struggles with declining health until his early death, supported by the devoted nursing of Ann and Cousin Maud. Margery marries Gotz after a tender courtship defined by his unyielding strength and her own affectionate surrender. The family circle expands through the upbringing of children and grandchildren, guided by trusted advisors like Master Peter. Through decades of civic responsibility, shared griefs, and quiet acts of service, Margery matures into the revered matriarch of Saint Sebald, proving that a life devoted to the well-being of others brings its own deep and lasting reward.

How It Unfolds

The burden of want Faced with financial ruin and the imprisonment of her brother Herdegen in Egypt, Margery and her household part with cherished jewels, dismiss loyal servants, and embrace humble cheer to preserve their remaining resources.

The Augsburg bargain Uncle Christian and Master Pernhart travel to Augsburg to confront old Jost Tetzel, successfully forcing the churlish merchant through threats of imperial displeasure to sign away Ursula's inheritance and fund the ransom.

The return of Gotz Gotz returns from his long journeying beyond seas, drawn back by memories of his family and his enduring love for Margery, quickly taking charge of negotiations and offering steady protection.

The pilgrimage to the East Margery, Ann, and their companions journey across the sea to Jerusalem and Egypt, navigating perilous roads and witnessing firsthand the physical and mental scars borne by the liberated captives.

The homecoming and reunion The travelers reunite in Nuremberg by a snowy roadside where Ann joyfully greets the pale, battered Herdegen, reaffirming her faithful love despite his failing health.

The matriarch's twilight Years of domestic partnership, civic leadership, and quiet mourning follow, culminating in Margery's honored old age as the beloved pillar of her parish and family.

The People

Margery Schopper is the warm, spirited heart of the tale who transforms from an anxious maiden into a resolute, clear-headed pillar of her family, enduring sacrifice and heartbreak to find fulfillment in her marriage to Gotz. Herdegen Schopper, her eldest brother, is a gifted and charismatic youth whose vanity and conflicts bring about his captivity in Egypt, leaving him physically broken and marked for an early grave upon his return. Ann is a noble, steadfast maiden whose brilliant beauty and unwavering loyalty sustain Herdegen through every trial without a trace of hesitation or horror. Gotz is an iron-willed, weathered wanderer who breaks his self-imposed exile to protect Margery, offering an unbending strength that balances her emotional warmth. Uncle Christian Pfinzing is a wise, humorous, and deeply generous godfather who uses his political influence and personal fortune to rescue the family from financial shipwreck. Cousin Maud is an anxious, fiercely devoted elder kinswoman whose initial bewilderment at sudden changes softens into profound maternal care for Herdegen. Kunz, a rejected suitor, finds quiet peace in remaining a devoted uncle and counselor to the extended family after losing his romantic suit.

In Its Own Voice

Our good hope of going forth with good-speed into the wide world to risk all for our lover and brother was not to be yet.

This reflection opens the narrative's early struggles, capturing the frustrating delays faced by the maidens and Kubbeling during their enforced stay at the forest-lodge.

You have known me from a child, and of your own free will you have given yourself over to this iron brain.

Gotz speaks these words to Margery while claiming her hand, defining the affectionate yet unyielding nature of their future union.

My heart beat as though it would crack, and lo, as I looked round to point them out to Herdegen, he had put forth his last strength to make his horse take the leap...

Margery observes her brother's dangerous exertion by the charcoal waggon, highlighting the physical decline that shadows his long-awaited homecoming.

What It's Really About

The novel explores the redemptive power of fidelity and the heavy cost of personal pride against the backdrop of fifteenth-century civic duty. It questions how vulnerable individuals—particularly women navigating rigid social structures—can assert moral agency, protect their kin, and counteract malicious betrayals. The narrative weighs the pull of foreign adventure against the quiet demands of hearth and home, suggesting that true nobility lies not in unblemished fortune or physical prowess, but in the steadfast willingness to bear one another's burdens through sacrifice and forgiveness.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love rich historical detail, slow-paced family chronicles, and deeply realized medieval settings will find much to treasure here. Reading Ebers's work feels like stepping into a finely illuminated manuscript, where the domestic routines, winter snows, and civic pageantry of old Nuremberg come alive through vivid, tactile prose. Modern readers should be prepared for a leisurely narrative pace, archaic idioms, and period-specific attitudes toward honor, social status, and gender roles that reflect the late-nineteenth-century antiquarian imagination. Yet beneath the historical distance lies an honest, emotionally resonant portrait of human resilience, aging, and enduring affection. The bittersweet grace of the ending—where youthful passion mellows into quiet community leadership and enduring memory—stays with you long after the final page.