Jolanthe Marès's Begierde (which translates to 'Desire') is a rediscovered gem from early 20th-century Berlin. It’s a window into a world of corsets, carriages, and clandestine meetings, all set against the electric backdrop of a city racing toward the modern age.

The Story

The plot centers on a young woman from a respectable but financially strained bourgeois family. She’s expected to make a 'good' marriage—a practical one that secures her family’s standing. But Berlin in the 1900s is full of new ideas, art, and a sense of possibility that thrums through its streets. She finds herself drawn into a faster, brighter circle, tempted by a more passionate and risky path. The story follows her tightrope walk between duty and desire, between the safe future laid out for her and the thrilling, uncertain one she craves. It’s a tense, intimate look at the choices that define a life.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me wasn't just the romance or the social drama, but how fiercely alive the characters feel. Marès writes about their inner struggles—the hunger for something more, the fear of scandal, the quiet rebellions—with a sharpness that feels fresh even today. You understand why her heroine is torn, and you feel the weight of every glance and whispered conversation. The city itself is a masterpiece of atmosphere. You can almost hear the clatter of horses on the cobblestones and feel the tension in crowded ballrooms. It’s a brilliant portrait of a society clinging to old rules while something new and restless pushes from underneath.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for readers who love historical fiction with a strong, relatable heart. If you enjoyed the societal pressures in The Age of Innocence or the vibrant setting of Babylon Berlin, you’ll sink right into this. It’s also a fantastic find for anyone interested in women’s stories from this era, written by a woman who actually lived it. Begierde is more than a period piece; it’s a compelling, surprisingly urgent story about wanting a life that’s truly your own.