Undine - Friedrich de la Motte Fouque

from Undine · host Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué

Undine is a novel by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué concerning Undine, a water spirit who marries a Knight named Huldbrand in order to gain a soul. It is an early German romance, which has been translated into English and other languages. The novel served as inspiration for two operas in the romantic style by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and Albert Lortzing, respectively, and two ballets: the nineteenth century Ondine and the twentieth century Undine. An edition of the book was illustrated by Arthur Rackham. In The Fantastic Imagination, George MacDonald writes, "Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine: that is a fairytale ... of all fairytales I know, I think Undine the most beautiful." (Summary from Wikipedia)

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 4, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

Undine - Friedrich de la Motte Fouque

0:00 3:08:44

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Custom of the Country Edith Wharton Edith Wharton, a masterful chronicler of late 19th Century New York Society, invites readers into the tumultuous life of Undine Sprague in this captivating novel. A beautiful and ambitious socialite from Apex City, Undine navigates the complexities of love, marriage, and ambition as she climbs the social ladder from New York to France, leaving a trail of broken hearts and shattered lives in her quest for happiness. Join us as we explore Whartons incisive commentary on the pursuit of status and the human condition. (Summary by Karen Merline) Sintram and His Companions by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué (1777 - 1843) LibriVox Friedrich de la Motte Fouque, also the author of Undine, was a German Romantic writer whose stories were filled with knights, damsels in distress, evil enchantments, and the struggle of good against overpowering evil. 'My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure.' Fouque blends the Romantic love for nature and ancient chivalry while telling a powerful story about a young man who yearns for that which he can never attain. (Summary by Alisson Veldhuis) Custom of the Country (version 2), The by Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937) LibriVox Edith Wharton's 1913 novel is a devastating critique of American upward mobility, told through the journey of Undine Spragg from fictional Midwestern Apex City to New York to Paris. Undine is determined to acquire money and position through marriage, even if it means multiple divorces. - Summary by Elizabeth Klett Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton Loyal Books Edith Wharton was a novelist of manners of late 19th Century New York “Society”, who spent much of her life in France. In this novel she tells the story of Undine Sprague, the thrice- (or more) married, upwardly mobile beauty from “Apex City”, transplanted to New York, and finally to France, leaving the dead and wounded in the wake of her “experiments in happiness”.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Undine?

This episode is 3 hours and 8 minutes long.

When was this Undine episode published?

This episode was published on June 4, 2026.

Can I download this Undine episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!