Kladivo na čarodějnice

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Kladivo na čarodějnice (The Witches' Hammer) is a Czech history novel by Václav Kaplický. It was first published in 1963.

The story is set in 17th century, in a region surrounding Velké Losiny and Šumperk. It is based on a historical event,[1] the witch trials in Northern Moravia during the 1670s orchestrated by inquisitor Boblig from Edelstat to which more than 100 people fell victim. The main character is dean Josef Lautner, a cleric who tries to help his people, but later becomes one of the innocent convicted as well.

Film adaptation[edit]

In 1970, Otakar Vávra and Ester Krumbachová adapted the novel for the film Witchhammer, directed by Vávra and starring Elo Romančík.[2] The film was banned by the Czechoslovakian government.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jan Bažant, Nina Bažantová and Frances Starn, The Czech Reader: History, Culture, Politics, Duke University Press, 2010, p. 344.
  2. ^ Alan Goble, ed., The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film, Bowker-Saur, 1999, p. 251.
  3. ^ Robert Buchar, Czech New Wave Filmmakers in Interviews, McFarland & Company Publishers, 2005, p. 200.