First Edition in the English language. Publisher: London Simms & McIntyre, 1849. Hardcover. Two volumes bound in a single book. No Dust Jacket. Volume 1: 286 pages. Volume 2: 292 pages. Rebound in brown cloth. 12mo, 163 x 97 mms.,

Condition:: Very Good+  Rebound in brown cloth. Edges of boards have moderate edgewear and corners are mildly bumped. Spine has light fading. A few pages have very minor foxing. A couple of pages have minor tears. Previous owner's name in ink on title page.

Originally published in German, this is a scarce first English edition. This translation by Lady Wilde was her first book-length publication; it was said to be her son's (Oscar Wilde) favorite reading.

Meinhold's narrative ostensibly covers the life of Sidonia von Borcke (1548–1620) was a Pomeranian noblewoman who was tried and executed for witchcraft in the city of Stettin in Poland. The painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti was fascinated by the story and introduced William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones to it in the 1850s. Burne-Jones was inspired to paint various scenes from the text including full-length figure studies of Sidonia and her foil Clara in 1860. Both paintings are now in the Tate collection.

The story chronicles the crimes of Sidonia, a cruel but outwardly beautiful sorceress who is active in the courts of sixteenth-century Pomerania. Meinhold's narrative ostensibly covers the life of Sidonia von Borcke (1548–1620) was a Pomeranian noblewoman who was tried and executed for witchcraft in the city of Stettin in PolandIn the story, a young Sidonia is rejected by a prince, and so turns vengeful, learning witchcraft to curse his family. After years of tormenting the courts, Sidonia eventually curses all the princes of Pomerania so that they can never father children. She is eventually tried for her crimes and executed. (From Google's artsandculture)

Scarce.