The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story

The English subtitle for The Empusium is “A Health Resort Horror Story.” To what extent does the novel adhere to the conventions of the horror genre?

The Empusium is one of several wellness-oriented horror novels that have been published in the past decade. Compare this novel to another in this subgenre, such as Mona Awad’s Rouge, Ling Ling Huang’s Natural Beauty, or E. K. Sathue’s Youthjuice. What critiques do these novels share? What is unique about The Empusium?

People come from all over Europe to attend the famous sanatorium. How does the novel present the tension between languages, ethnicities, and cultures at this time? How does this tension factor into World War I, which is referenced at the end of the novel?

The alpine air of the mountains is said to have a restorative effect on those suffering from tuberculosis. To what extent does the novel present a relationship between the local geography and physical wellness? How does it complicate this relationship?

Thilo’s musings on interpreting paintings and the Schwärmerei liquor both offer ways to change one’s perspective. How are these things related, and how are they different? Does Olga Tokarczuk prize one of these methods over the other?

What themes does this novel share with Olga Tokarczuk’s other works? Can her novels be considered in conversation with each other?

Raimund is a mysterious presence in the guesthouse. To what extent does he take up Opitz’s mantle following the events of the novel’s climax? Is he successful?

In what ways do the charcoal burners suggest that there is an inherently violent aspect to masculinity? How is this perspective reinforced elsewhere in the novel?