Alraune

Alraune by Hanns Heinz Ewers is an illustrated English translation of the decadent novel, published by Birchgrove Press in August 2013. This edition spans 340 pages and is presented in English, offering readers a glimpse into the second volume of Ewers’ Frank Braun trilogy. The narrative centers on Frank Braun, an arrogant student who convinces his uncle to create a child through artificial insemination, using sperm from a condemned man and a prostitute as the mother. The resulting child, Alraune, becomes a beautiful yet perverse young woman endowed with a mysterious power that influences those around her.

Readers will encounter themes of horror and the occult as the story unfolds, drawing inspiration from medieval beliefs surrounding the mandrake root, which was thought to possess supernatural properties. Alraune’s journey explores the complexities of beauty and power, as well as the consequences of her origins. This edition is based on a translation first published in 1929, illustrated by Mahlon Blaine, and invites readers to delve into a world where beauty intertwines with darkness and moral ambiguity.