The Dean's Watch: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Dean's Watch: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Dean's Watch is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Erckmann-Chatrian. The listed translation credits are Fiske, Ralph Browning (1870–1898).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Dean's Watch" by Erckmann-Chatrian is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set against a backdrop of suspense and mystery, the story revolves around the themes of misunderstanding, justice, and moral dilemmas within a small community. The narrative captures the adventures and tribulations of two musicians, Kasper and Wilfred, who find themselves entangled in a sinister plot surrounding a series of murders in Heidelberg. The story begins with Kasper and Wilfred arriving in Heidelberg just before Christmas, hoping to perform music amidst challenging weather conditions. However, they soon find themselves caught in a web of excitement and fear due to the recent murders and the police crackdown on supposed bandits. As the plot unfolds, Kasper discovers that a brutal figure—the dean of the town—has been behind these crimes. Through a series of tense events, including the near capture of Kasper and his friends, he teams up with the local authorities to bring justice. Ultimately, the revelation that the dean is responsible for the atrocities leads to a dramatic conclusion, showcasing not only Kasper's bravery but also the capacity for redemption in a deeply fractured society.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Dean's Watch
- Author credits: Erckmann-Chatrian
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Fiske, Ralph Browning (1870–1898)
Catalogue subjects
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


