The Witch of Prague by F. Marion Crawford
"The Witch of Prague" is a novel that centers around the complex character of Unorna, a wealthy orphan endowed with hypnotic and clairvoyant abilities, as well as spell-casting powers. The narrative unfolds her tumultuous interactions with a cast of intriguing characters, including Keyork Arabian, a physician and philosopher who harbors a deep obsession for Unorna. The plot thickens as Unorna becomes infatuated with the Wanderer, who is on a quest to find his beloved, Beatrice Varanger, whose father had previously opposed their union.
As Unorna attempts to use her powers to divert the Wanderer's affections towards herself, she faces the challenge of his enduring love for Beatrice. Meanwhile, Israel Kafka, a wealthy young man in love with Unorna, becomes entangled in Keyork's sinister schemes, which include using Kafka's blood to sustain an ancient patient known as the Old Man. The story explores themes of love, obsession, and the supernatural, culminating in a dramatic resolution where Unorna ultimately chooses to reunite the Wanderer with Beatrice, sacrificing her own desires in the process. This narrative weaves together elements of romance, tragedy, and the metaphysical, offering a rich tapestry of human emotion and the quest for eternal life.
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The Witch of Prague
First published: 1891
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy—extrasensory powers
Time of work: About 1890
Locale: Prague, Czechoslovakia
The Plot
The story concerns the successes and failures of Unorna, a twenty-five-year-old wealthy orphan. Ever since childhood, when she was observed taming a wolf, she has possessed hypnotic, clairvoyant, and spell-casting powers. She is aided by Keyork Arabian, a clever, dwarfish physician, philosopher, and occultist who would give anything to possess her, body and soul. Unorna’s aim is to thwart the Wanderer’s seven-year search for Beatrice Varanger, his beloved. Beatrice’s father, opposed to their union, had traveled evasively with her until his recent death.
Once Unorna casts her eyes on the Wanderer, she is smitten. Meanwhile, she is loved unrequitedly by Israel Kafka, a rich, handsome young Jew whose healthy blood Keyork uses to keep alive the somnolent body of a patient known as the Old Man. For seven years, Keyork has controlled this enormous wise man, who is 107 years old, hoping to learn from him the secret of eternal life. Keyork is guarded by the Individual, his huge deaf and mute Russian servant. Sister Paul, though knowing and fearing Unorna, stands ready to help Beatrice if needed.
On New Year’s Day, the Wanderer sees Beatrice, home at last, at Mass in Prague’s gloomy Teyn Kirche, but he loses her in the departing crowd. He follows her to a strange house but finds only Unorna. She instantly falls in love with the tall, devout, handsome man. Looking further for Beatrice, he encounters Keyork, his friend from former days, who offers help. For the next month, Unorna tries to hypnotize the Wanderer into forgetting Beatrice and loving her, but visions of the innocent Beatrice intervene to frustrate Unorna’s most strenuous efforts. Meanwhile, Keyork periodically transfuses Kafka’s blood into the Old Man’s veins. At the same time, he hypnotically persuades Kafka that they have been traveling across Europe together for a necessarily enervating month.
The final day of the novel begins. Kafka, in a weakened state, follows Unorna and the Wanderer to the old Jewish cemetery. To dissolve Kafka’s persistent love for her, Unorna bewitches the distraught fellow into believing that he is Simon Abeles, a boy martyred by seventeenth century Jews in Prague for converting to Christianity. Next, she nearly persuades Beatrice, whom she finds in Sister Paul’s convent, to defile the sacred hosts in church that night—and thus deserve eternal damnation— but is stopped when the stalwart nun approaches. Unorna is impressed first when the Wanderer prevents Kafka from killing her in revenge (not that she would mind dying) and then when he tenderly restores the fellow to health. Braving Keyork’s wrath, she awakens the Old Man and asks his advice. In sepulchral tones, he persuades her to reunite the Wanderer and Beatrice. She does so, is forgiven by the lovers, and dies. In agony, Keyork utters a diabolical growl and disappears into thin air.