Historical novel about the construction of the city wall of Essen. Essen 1244. With the joint deed to build the city wall, the citizens of the settlement of Essende see their chance to break away from the rule of the imperial abbess and become an empire-free city. The Wagner family of craftsmen experienced the increasing trading activities of the aspiring merchants with connections to the flourishing Hanseatic League through the Hellweg. The clear boundaries between the estates seem to blur, and the young Wagner Johann almost loses himself in hopeless love with a young aspirant of the high nobility's convent. The citizens try to achieve their goal by all means - but a blasphemous robbery of the Golden Madonna shakes the whole society and endangers all efforts to negotiate amicably...
