The Burgermeister's Daughter

This is a book by Steven Ozment.

We had a power failure the other day, and I had to find something to do where there was power. Don't ask me why, but I visited a university bookstore, and I noticed this book was being used in a graduate history class. It looked really good, and they actually had it at the library near my house.

This book tells the story of Anna Buschler of the town of Hall in Germany in the early to mid 1500's. She was the burgermeister's daughter (hence the title) and a bit wild. She and her father had a falling out and he threw her out and they ending up suing each other. Things got worse when he died - there was litigation over his will. Like a car wreck, you have to look!! Really, it is an interesting story, and the author tells it within the greater historical and cultural context existing then.

I liked the book, but was a bit surprised that it got out of the publishers without better editing. Ambiguous language and small contradictions were common. The author is a Harvard professor - hmm?

Anyway, it is worth a read if this sort of things interests you.