The Hunger Countess: based on a true story

by Annette Spratte

Meet King Charles III.'s nine-times great-grandmother!The County of Sayn in Germany, 17th CenturyGrowing up in the safety of her parents' castle, Ernestine von Sayn-Wittgenstein is suddenly struck by disaster. Her younger brother dies, breaking off the male line of the family. Her mother, Countess Louise Juliane, is faced with a number of the powerful electors of Cologne and Trier make a grab for the county, as do various members of her own extended family.Captivity, hunger, and flight through a war-ridden country suddenly dictate the countesses' lives. Their ordeal nearly shatters them until they finally reach a safe haven. From there, Louise Juliane starts an unprecedented fight for her daughters' hereditary rights, appealing to the highest authorities.Ernestine faces quite a different question, Who will she be forced to marry?This historical novel tells the true life story of an unusual woman whose impressive stance is bound to inspire women to this day.Reader's A great asset of this novel are its well-defined characters. Their personalities are depicted in a manner that makes you feel you know them. It's thrilling to learn about the circumstances of times long past.Once started, it was hard to stop reading, and knowing it's a true story made it even more fascinating. The story is full of tension and suprises, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the time. This is definitely no dry account of historical events, but a great, lively novel offering entertaining reading hours. Ernestine's character development was convincing and wonderful to follow. My true favorite is her mother, though, who fought with so much passion for her rights. The author made her relatable and humane. I couldn't help rooting for her. Among Louise Juliane's descendants are such illustrous names as King George III., Franz Albert von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha, Prince consort of Queen Victoria, Emperor William II. of Germany, the Red Baron von Richthofen, and King Charles III.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2023

About the author

Annette Spratte has lived several lives: as a child in Germany, as an au-pair in Pennsylvania, as a legal secretary and as a horse trainer back again in Germany. Now she is a freelance author and translator, wife, mother of two, horseowner and a devoted gardener. She lives in a village close to Altenkirchen in the beautiful Westerwald region in Germany. She hates shopping.

Reviews

[Heidi Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author is a gifted writer and historian, and I was drawn into Ernestine’s story from the very first page. The author must’ve done some serious research for this book as I’m certain that 17th century documents are hard to come by. I loved the extras at the end of the book explaining some of her writing and research process. But this story is beautiful. It’s a story of the strength of women and especially that of a mother. Countess Louise Juliane of Sayn-Wittgenstein is remembered as “the Hunger Countess.” She loved her people and was dedicated to their well-being during a very dark time in German history, and, also, during a time when women did not have much say in what happened to them let alone to the people around them. When tragedy hit her family, the Countess fights for her daughters to exist in safety and to keep their land and their titles. She fights not only for her daughters, but for their people. The story is told through her eldest daughter, Ernestine’s, eyes. The Hunger Countess is a beautiful story of the strength of women. I recommend it for that reason alone, but also because the story is so detailed and well researched that I felt like I was there- in Germany in the 1600’s. I’ve never been to Germany, so well done to the author for taking me to a new place in a new time.

[Shirani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inheriting her mother's strength

The Hunger Countess is based on the true story of Countess Louise Juliane of Sayn-Wittgenstein. Set in Germany in the 1600s it is about the hasty decision taken by the countess to sign over her county to a distant relative when her only son dies. Although her late husband had made provisions for their daughters to inherit in the case something happened to their son, she makes the decision amid mounting pressure from various factions. However, she soon regrets the decision and spends a lifetime trying to upturn the outcome and return the county to its rightful owners.

The story narrated by Ernestine, her eldest daughter, takes us through the moment they decide to flee their home in the Freusburg fortress in the night with the dead Ludwig, her brother and heir to their lands, and seek shelter Hachenburg Castle, and the ultimate battles fought and won to regain the county. It details the greed of wealthy men who want to own the prosperous county and the horrors of famine they bring about as a result of their cruel treatment of the citizens they are supposed to care for and protect.

The Countess is no ordinary woman. Conditioned by the ill health of her husband to take on more responsibilities to run the county, she is well positioned to do just that, except for the fact that she is a woman and in 1600 Germany, women did not inherit land. However, she is no ordinary woman and she fights for the right to regain the lands and titles that belong to her two daughters. The fight is also for the people who live on the lands and are burdened by the taxes and unfair conditions imposed on them by the new rulers. An incredibly strong woman the countess uses all her resources to fight to regain her lands. Her calculated moves, the decisions she makes, her knowledge of the law and politics, the connections she makes and how they are used to her benefit are clearly portrayed.

We see Ernestine and her sister grow up in these times and witness the development of their individual characters and personalities. It is refreshing to read about a woman who stood up for what is right in a time when women didn’t have any say about their own personal lives or that of the people around them. This strength and way of thinking greatly influences the young Ernestine. We see her evolving into a strong young woman determined to seek justice as she helps her mother, getting actively involved in the running of the estate.

The character development of both Ernestine and her sister are beautifully portrayed. A lot of care and research has gone into the creation of this novel as evinced by the setting, the way of life and the rules governing life at the time.

It is a book for all interested in history, royalty and the position of women in bygone times.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written novel based on the true story of a German countess in the 1600s. The author has done an extraordinary amount of research to bring the characters to life, creating a rich narrative that transports you to another time.

This is the story of Ernestine von Sayn-Wittgenstein, daughter of a countess, who grew up in troubled times where war and politics created rulers, and ruined them. From an easy, carefree childhood, Ernestine soon learns the meaning of hunger and desperation, as her family is driven from their home.

The characters are so vividly written that you can see them in your mind's eye as you read, following the young countess from her days as a spoiled child to a compassionate adult. The setting and the history give the story added depth that will delight lovers of historical fiction. Highly recommend.