In the quiet island monastery of Reichenau lives a very special monk: Hermann the Cripple. Initially hindered by a severe paralysis, he experiences neglect, and later also envy and resentment. However, he accepts his fate. Supported by the strength of his faith and his acceptance of his personal situation, he develops into one of the most remarkable individuals of the Middle Ages. He works as a scientist, writer, mathematician, musician, and historian, and lived on the island from 1020 to 1054.