The Dwarf of Westerbourg

This overlooked gothic gem from Spiess (1755–1799), set in the mid–13th century and alternating between prose and dramatic formats, depicts the dangers of unchecked passion. Little Peter, a spirit of unknown origin and skill, is bound to the German Knight Rodolphe of Westerbourg by supernatural forces and accompanies him on his far-flung travels as counselor, servant, and frequent savior. Wandering from Germany across Europe and into the Middle East, Rodolphe falls in love with a string of women and has a series of affairs that universally end in tragedy: Regina, Agnes, Euphrosina, and the nun Mary all die; Clara is locked in a tower where Rodolphe will never see her again. When Little Peter is no longer able to help Rodolphe enact his increasingly desperate desires, Rodolphe turns to a much darker spirit for aid. It’s easy to see how Rodolphe’s page-turning adventures, first published in 1791, influenced the works that came after it, notably Matthew Lewis’s The Monk. This is a valuable reprint for any reader with an interest in the history of gothicism. (Nov.)