“If you think we’re waxworks,” he said, “you ought to pay, you know. Waxworks weren’t made to be looked at for nothing, nohow!”
(Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass)
(Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass)
Oskar Panizza (1853-1921) is recognized today for his avant-garde approach as a writer and playwright—a confrontational stance against the repressive regime of Kaiser Wilhelm II. This bold position ultimately led to Panizza serving a year in prison following the scandal surrounding his tragicomedy, Das Liebeskonzil (The Love Council, 1894), and contributed to the deterioration of his mental health, culminating in his final years spent in a mental asylum in Bayreuth. Despite these challenges, this subversive author left a significant legacy. One of his early works that garnered the attention of notable authors such as Frank Wedekind and Otto Julius Bierbaum was the collection of short stories Dämmrungsstücke (1890). It is the first story from this collection, “Das Wachsfigurenkabinet,” that we are proud to present to our readers as our new Waxworks release.
Translated with notes by Thilo Sigurd Graf, this work presents a refined, almost Kafkaesque narrative infused with humor. It serves as the foundation for the translations of the short stories in Dämmrungsstücke (translated by Graf as Dusk Pieces), which we will work over the coming months as a Raphus exclusive series of exquisite books.
Waxworks, hard cover in special format (Prayer Book), limited edition (35 copies only, numbered) printed in fine paper, 4.7 x 7.4 in (120 x 190mm), 55 pages, illustrated, available for shipment in 25-35 days. Pre-order via PayPal. Soon, it would be available at our partner Ziesings. Only USD 33.00, including mail expenses.
Translated with notes by Thilo Sigurd Graf, this work presents a refined, almost Kafkaesque narrative infused with humor. It serves as the foundation for the translations of the short stories in Dämmrungsstücke (translated by Graf as Dusk Pieces), which we will work over the coming months as a Raphus exclusive series of exquisite books.
Waxworks, hard cover in special format (Prayer Book), limited edition (35 copies only, numbered) printed in fine paper, 4.7 x 7.4 in (120 x 190mm), 55 pages, illustrated, available for shipment in 25-35 days. Pre-order via PayPal. Soon, it would be available at our partner Ziesings. Only USD 33.00, including mail expenses.
Waxworks + International mail expenses: USD 33.00
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The opinion of our readers
Golden Age of Clairvoyance
"Well I have received the books today and I had certain high expectations and I must say such high expectations were well exceeded. The selectivity of the authors as I may have mentioned before (both individually and in combination) and translations are impeccable. The book design is exquisite and enhances the holistic reading experience (by way of comparison, on first seeing the books I had the same sense of elation when I had received my first Sylph Edition Cahiers a few years ago)."
(Andrew Condous)
(Andrew Condous)
"The books look really nice - I'm especially liking the full-color images inside. Very good design."
(Damian Murphy)
(Damian Murphy)
"The chapbooks are beautiful. Well done! Equally engaging for the eye and mind."
(Rachel Kinbar)
(Rachel Kinbar)
"The initial print-run of all three is, of course, low, so any interested readers should make a quick decision; because I do hope Raphus continue on their path of intriguing little translations of the recovered uncanny and esoteric."
(Mark Andresen at Pan Review)
(Mark Andresen at Pan Review)
The great weird and fantastic connoisseur, Des Lewis, made an insightful review of Black Mirror, the second chapbook in the series, available in this link.
Spiritual Meaning of the Massacres
"Many thanks for sending me a copy of The Mendicant. It really looks rather good – a bit like one of the books you read about in short stories that start off ‘Beware if you read these words... too late!"
(Stephen Cashmore)
(Stephen Cashmore)
"It's a marvelous production, and it's great that you have resurrected the remarkable title piece. I also enjoyed the pamphlet (...). Long may Raphus Press reign!"
(Chris Mikul)
(Chris Mikul)
"I am absolutely delighted with them [The Mendicant of the Books and The Sacred Abysmal Perspective]! They are both true examples of true and original creative philosophical ingenuity, originality and also design. They are fantastickal chapbooks and it is an equal delight to have been able to contribute and to assist in other ways. Although I saw the proofed editions when you e-mailed them to me, now that they are in my hands, they veritably glow and crackle and weep with their malign embers.
I shall take myself off on a sacred journey this weekend, like the early priests going to Tibet, and will immerse myself in the deep folds and ravines these chapbooks open up."
(Jonathan Wood)
I shall take myself off on a sacred journey this weekend, like the early priests going to Tibet, and will immerse myself in the deep folds and ravines these chapbooks open up."
(Jonathan Wood)