Seed of the Volga

by Karen Schutte

The warm autumn air was thick with acrid smoke and the smell of fresh blood. Heinz Steiner crouched low in the dense thicket. As the crack of gunshots and screams echoed through the dense woods, he stopped and carefully considered his options. The sounds were coming from near the clearing at the north edge of the woods where the widow Rothnig and her five scrawny, starving spawn lived in a makeshift hovel. Unarmed, Heinz was no match for the élite French troops who relentlessly terrorized the lower Rhine and upper Danube River Valleys. They killed whatever and whomever happened to be in their path, and they enjoyed it. When Princess Theraisa Von Steiner discovers she is with child soon after the tragic death of her beloved David Ritter, there is no match for the trepidation that consumes her soul. The smallest level of comfort finds her when her Aunt Louisa offers her only solution: travel to the Volga to have the child in secret. Little did Theraisa and Louisa know that the journey would be so perilous, and the newborn child would be the one responsible for bringing the Sreiner bloodline to America at the turn of the century. Based on the true story of author Karen Schutte's family, Seed of the Volga captures the chilling tale of her ancestors journey to the German settlements along the Volga River in Russia They left their family and the only home they had ever known while realizing they would never see them again.

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2013

About the author

I am a 2nd generation German American and a historical novelist. I write books/stories based on my family history. Born and raised in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming, I graduated from UW with a degree in Design Mktg. I was a professional interior designer ASID for 25 years. Now I WRITE and WRITE! THE TICKET, SEED OF THE VOLGA, FLESH ON THE BONE, and THE TANK COMMANDER---a series of four family saga books. GERMAN YANKEE is the first in a new family saga series to be released in October 2018. I love to write--it is an emotional and psycological release and expression. It is my avenue to preserving my own family heritage and a way for me to leave my mark in this world! My husband and I have four sons, and 9 grandchildren.

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book and my kudos go out to the author. She certainly did her research and the story flowed from the very beginning. The story follows a Volga-German family and the difficult path they chose in immigrating to America. I really enjoyed the beginning and learned a great deal I did not know about the German from Russia community. I did not know how so many Germans settled along the Volga River. Her character seemed well thought out and developed. It impressed me that she had done enough research to base them upon her early ancestors. After the family moved to America the story line did not seem as smooth. I wondered if the book would turn into a collection of memoirs as the children were individually introduced and various subplots seemed to meander. I was not sure how well the letters between the boys connected. However, as the aging parents reflected upon their adventures and life together everything seemed to come together. The ending was very heartfelt. I see this author has another book out that I will readily purchase. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in epic family novels, European history, and America at the turn of the century.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an historical fiction story based on the lives of the author's ancestors who were Germans from Russia. The author covers the whole history of the German from Russia people beginning with their move from Germany to Russia in the 1760s and then follows her family as they leave Russia for America and their life here. I wanted to read it as I have similar family history. It was an interesting story although some of the dialogue came across to me as contrived.

[Wcrocket · Rating 3 out of 5]

History long forgotten!!!!!!!!! Must teach our children!!!!!!!!

Simple enough read to understand how this country was settled, and what a beauty it was back then. Now we trash our USA. I wonder what those emigrants would think of us now. Every college freshman should be made to read all 3 books. Considering we don't have our parents or grandparents passing down family history anymore, because we are too busy in our fury of activities, please take the time to read.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

soon