The Nürnberg Stove

For nine-year-old August Strehla, the great porcelain stove in his family's home is a beloved companion. Ouida places him in Hall, an Austrian town surrounded by mountains, where winter streets lead past old churches, painted houses and the rushing river. The Strehla household has little money, and August's elder sister Dorothea works to keep the children fed and cared for. The stove, made by Augustin Hirschvogel, supplies both warmth and a brilliant display of figures, colors and heraldic ornament.

The story carries August from familiar domestic comforts into the uncertainty of railway travel. He is hidden inside the stove as it is transported to Munich, enduring thirst and fear while speaking to it for reassurance. Written for children, the tale connects affection for a beautiful household object with family hardship and a child's imagination. Its detailed streets and interiors give readers a sense of the places and possessions that make August feel secure.