The Empusium
by Olga Tokarczuk
Why read it
This novel offers a brilliant, subversively witty response to classic sanatorium literature, specifically echoing Thomas Mann's world while steering it into folk horror and philosophical inquiry. Set on the brink of World War I, it follows a frail student convalescing in a mountain health resort where the male patients endlessly debate philosophy, science, and the supposed inferiority of women, all while an uncanny, ancient threat watches from the forest. It is a sharp, atmospheric blend of dark satire, eerie folklore, and gender subversion from a Nobel laureate.
Where to get it
For audio, the English unabridged edition is narrated by Natasha Soudek and can be streamed or purchased across major services available in the Netherlands, including Storytel, Nextory, Kobo Plus, Audible, Google Play, and Apple Books. You can check the Dutch Online Bibliotheek (online library) for digital loans. If you decide to pick up a physical copy in English or the Dutch translation (Het sanatorium), look to local booksellers such as the American Book Center, Waterstones Amsterdam, Athenaeum Boekhandel, Libris shops, or order online via Bol.com.
What to expect
The tone is atmospheric, intellectual, subtly eerie, and laced with dry, feminist irony. The pacing is a slow, measured burn that builds tension through dialogue and mood rather than rapid action. Demands moderate focus to appreciate its philosophical debates and historical context. Content notes include period-typical blatant misogyny (deliberately dramatized and critiqued), illness/tuberculosis, alcohol and hallucinogen use, body horror, and mild folk-horror violence.
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