Set in 1913, the story follows Mieczysław Wojnicz, a student seeking treatment for tuberculosis at a sanatorium in Görbersdorf. Within the Guesthouse for Gentlemen, the male residents spend their days drinking liqueur and debating the inherent inferiority of women, utilizing classical philosophy and pseudo-scientific theories to justify their misogyny. Beyond the walls of the facility, a sinister presence inhabits the surrounding forest, demanding a yearly blood sacrifice. This entity observes the men’s arrogance while preparing to enact a violent, supernatural reckoning that targets the patriarchal order they represent.
This book serves readers interested in folk horror and Revisionist literature. Those who enjoy dissecting historical gender dynamics and the intersection of traditional folklore with intellectual history will find a meticulous subversion of the sanitarium novel. Readers walk away with a shifted perspective on the fragility of male intellectualism and the tactile, often gruesome reality of the natural world. It satisfies a desire for atmospheric dread combined with a critical analysis of how institutionalized prejudice functions within secluded European society.
- Published
- 2022
- Language
- EN
