The Rhineland in the 19th century. It is the world of traders and peddlers, of bustling markets, dirt, and poverty. It is the time of emigrants, social changes, and revolts. For Peter Zirbes, this is the material that nourishes his poetry. In the life of the highly gifted but misunderstood poet, there seems to be an irony of fate as the envy and stubbornness of those around him dramatically intensify, driving him to a step that ends in catastrophe.