Peter Kamber: «Die himmlischen Versuchungen des Conrad Grebel»

Conrad Grebel, son of a powerful Zurich councillor, falls in love with a novice at the municipal monastery of Oetenbach after the beginning of the Reformation. He runs away with her, and they marry against the will of his parents. Initially enthusiastic about Zwingli, Conrad distanced himself more and more from his authoritarian course and became a co-founder of a radical, non-violent community in which everyone was allowed to preach, including women.
Fleeing from Zwingli and in possession of a mysterious manuscript, Conrad Grebel died of the plague in 1526 at the home of his sister Barbara in Maienfeld. She had once brought his love letters to the monastery, now she travels to Zurich with the news of his death. There she gets caught up in the terror phase of the Reformation: her father is executed and Conrad's best friend is drowned in the Limmat. Strict moral mandates are issued, a ban on dancing is proclaimed, and the death penalty is imposed for adultery.
This novel provides a vivid picture of the greatest upheaval in Zurich's history – a time of new freedom, relentless religious struggle and monastery occupations by farmers 500 years ago.