In Translation Book Club: The Wax Child

Welcome to, a celebration of global literature and storytelling across languages and borders! This free, bi-monthly event in our studio space introduces readers to powerful voices writing in languages other than English, amplifying fresh perspectives, underheard narratives and bold ideas.

After a brief summer reprieve, we’re back with a darker read to accompany you through spooky season — , by Olga Ravn, translated from Danish by Martin Aitken.

Fans of Robert Eggers, rejoice: Olga Ravn’s brand new novel revisits an infamous seventeenth-century witch trial in Northern Jutland told through the strange, all-seeing eyes of a wax doll who yearns for her lost maker. Dark and beautiful, the story follows Christenze Kruckow and several women accused of witchcraft, their lives punctuated by whispers of the Devil and the threat of the stake. Interwoven with original archival sources — letters, spells, and court records — Ravn reconstructs a fragile world where the true horror lies not in the supernatural, but in the brutality of people influenced by suspicion, gendered violence, and the will to dominate.

We’ll be discussing it on Tuesday, December 9 at 6:00pm. Bring yourself and an open mind to discuss the book! That’s all.

You do not need to have purchased the book from us to attend, but we’ll be offering a 10% discount on the title if you do. You can do so by selecting between two ticket options.

More about Upstart & Crow:

Upstart & Crow is a not-for-profit creative studio and literary incubator that champions writers, readers and stories, and the role they play in shaping our lives. We develop original programs, support artists and revel in creative projects focused on Literature In Translation / Climate Solutions / Poetry / Civic Dialogue / Community & Skills Building … all with the aim of elevating the role of literature and storytelling in our lives. Find us on Granville Island, Gibsons and online at upstartandcrow.com.

Accessibility:

The main studio of our shop is accessible for folks with mobility aids. There is a washroom on the main floor available for attendees.

Questions: hello[at]upstartandcrow.com.

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