The author visited the Passion Play, which takes place every ten years, in 1871, the planned 1870 performance having been interrupted by the Franco-Prussian War. His book offers a history of the play, a description of the town, and of his experiences. The real photographs illustrating the book show the town, and scenes and characters of the play. His account appeared again in 1880, but with the illustrations appearing as a single composite frontispiece.