The Wax Child
The Wax Child by Olga Ravn is a novel published by Penguin Publishing Group on November 6, 2025, featuring 144 pages in English. This work presents a narrative set in 1620, centered around Christenze Krukow, who creates a wax child by melting beeswax into the form of a small human. As she carries this figure with her, it becomes a silent observer of her life, witnessing the whispers of those around her and the societal tensions that arise from suspicions of witchcraft.
Readers will find a story that delves into themes of horror and the complexities of human relationships, as the wax child perceives the world through Christenze’s experiences. The narrative explores the haunting atmosphere of a time marked by fear and superstition, reflecting on the violence and cruelty that can emerge from societal judgment. Based on a historical witch trial in Denmark, The Wax Child offers a unique perspective on the interplay between reality and the supernatural, inviting readers to engage with a chilling yet thought-provoking tale.
Official synopsis Publisher
It was a black night in the year 1620 when Christenze Krukow made the wax child, when she melted down beeswax and set it in the image of a small human. For days, she carried it tucked beneath her arm, shaping it with the warmth of her flesh, giving it life. She fashioned for it eyes and ears that cannot open, and yet – it watches and listens.
It looks on as Christenze is haunted by rumour, it hears what the people whisper. It sees how, in the candlelight, she gazes with love at her friends, and hears the things they say in the shadows. It knows pine forest, misty fjord and the crackle of the burning pyre. It observes the violence in men’s eyes and the cruelty of their laws. In time, it begins to understand that once a suspicion of witchcraft has taken hold, it can prove impossible to shake…
Based on an infamous seventeenth century Danish witch trial, The Wax Child is the extraordinary new novel from Olga Ravn, one of the most acclaimed and original writers at work today- a mesmerising, frightening vision of a time when witches and magic were as real to the human mind as soil and seawater.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Wax Child” about?
Who is the author of “The Wax Child”?
When was “The Wax Child” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Wax Child”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
