Karl May

The film portrays Karl May in the years around 1899 and into the early 20th century, at the height of his fame as a novelist. As his books are reissued and his reputation grows, a fierce public and press campaign questions the value of his wildly imaginative tales and attacks his integrity. May embarks on travels to the lands he had always only described in fiction, hoping to prove himself and defend his work. At the same time, he is embroiled in lawsuits and scandals brought by detractors who dredge up his controversial past, earlier legal troubles, and claims that he fraudulently presented his stories as first-hand experiences.