The Wax Child
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, published by New Directions Publishing Corporation on September 2, 2025, is a historical fiction work that immerses readers in seventeenth-century Denmark. The narrative centers on Christenze Kruckow, an unmarried noblewoman accused of witchcraft alongside other women rumored to be possessed by a headless man, granting them dark powers. This unsettling tale explores themes of brutality and power within the fragile communities of premodern Europe.
Readers will find a richly detailed story that draws on real witchcraft trials in Northern Jutland, presenting a blend of atmospheric storytelling and historical research. The Wax Child is uniquely narrated by a wax doll created by Christenze, adding a haunting perspective to the unfolding events. The book incorporates quotes from original sources, including letters and court documents, enhancing its authenticity and depth. With 176 pages, this edition offers a vivid exploration of witchcraft and its implications in a historical context.
Official synopsis Publisher
In seventeenth-century Denmark, Christenze Kruckow, an unmarried noblewoman, is accused of witchcraft. She and several other women are rumored to be possessed by the Devil, who has come to them in the form of a tall headless man who gives them dark powers: they can steal people’s happiness, they have performed unchristian acts, and they can cause pestilence or death. They are all in danger of the stake.
The Wax Child, narrated by a wax doll created by Christenze Kruckow, is an unsettling horror story about brutality and power, nature and witchcraft, set in the fragile communities of premodern Europe.
Deeply researched and steeped in visceral, atmospheric detail, The Wax Child is based on a series of real witchcraft trials that took place in Northern Jutland in the seventeenth century. Full of lush storytelling and alarmingly rich imagination, Olga Ravn also weaves in quotes from original sources such as letters, magical spells and manuals, court documents, and Scandinavian grimoires.
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