Het gezin van Paemel

The family patriarch Van Paemel is a farmer on baron de Wildes estate His mildmannered son Désire is accidentally shot during a hunting party on the estate and remains an invalid Eduard the eldest son is a member of the socialist workers movement and involved in strike actions in the city Against her fathers wishes his daughter Cordule starts an affair with the poacher Masco His youngest daughter Romanie is forced to work as a domestic servant at the castle where she is seduced by Maurice the barons son and heir and becomes pregnant When the youngest son Kamiel also has to leave the farm because he is drafted into the army the lack of workers on Van Paemels farm becomes critical As a result the family is evicted from their home because they cannot pay the rent Three of the children emigrate to the USA one becomes a nun and one dies until only the farmer and his wife remain