Valerie and Her Week of Wonders: A Gothic Novel

This book, published by Twisted Spoon Press in Prague, features a work written in 1935 during the peak of Czech Surrealism, though it wasn't released until 1945. It presents a bizarre erotic fantasy centered on a young girl's journey into womanhood coinciding with her first menstruation. Drawing inspiration from various sources, including Matthew Lewis's *The Monk* and Marquis de Sade's *Justine*, the narrative weaves a lyrical, menacing dream of sexual awakening. Elements include a vampire with a craving for chicken blood, changelings, lecherous priests, and a grandmother yearning for her lost youth. In the Foreword, the author expresses his fascination with ancient tales and superstitions that captivated him yet remained elusive in meaning. This work blends fairy tale and Gothic horror, reflecting on themes of youth, age, sexuality, and death. It explores the grotesque and features a fluid interplay of language, mood, and genre, characteristic of the Czech avant-garde. The 1970 film adaptation is regarded as a significant achievement in Czech new-wave cinema. This edition also includes original illustrations by Kamil Lhoták.