HistorieCafé: Burnt at the Stake

Name: HistorieCafé: Burnt at the Stake
Start: 2026-10-20T19:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-20T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Biblioteket Slagelse

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 · 19:00 — 21:00

Biblioteket Slagelse, Slagelse · 40 kr. · ≈ 5 €

lecture date culture

HistorieCafé: Burnt at the Stake — Biblioteket Slagelse, Slagelse

Author and historian Maria Østerby Elleby explores witch hunts in Denmark through concrete cases from West Zealand - a stark history of fear, curses, and deep belief in God and the Devil.

Elleby has written "Witchcraft: The Great Book of Magic" (2024, Politikens Forlag) and "The Devil's Tumult: Witch Hunts in the Supreme Court" (March 2026, Nord Academic). In August 2026, "Bonfires and Flames: Witch Hunts in Denmark" will be published (Politikens Forlag).

Ticket sales open August 14 at 10:00.

About the venue: Biblioteket Slagelse

Biblioteket Slagelse is the main public library in Slagelse, situated at Stenstuegade 14. The collection covers books, audiobooks, e-books, periodicals and films, and the building also houses a homework café, reading areas, a children's section and Borgerservice (citizen services). The library regularly hosts author evenings, film clubs, exhibitions and music events. Slagelse Bibliotekerne also runs branches in Korsør and Skælskør.

Stenstuegade 14, 4200 Slagelse Get directions

About: Maria Østerby Elleby

Witch-trial historian and author Maria Østerby Elleby guides audiences from the courtrooms of the 1600s to modern pop culture, exploring why the figure of the witch continues to captivate us.

1000+

people executed for witchcraft in Denmark according to Elleby's research

cities on current lecture tour (Original Talks)

episodes of the podcast "Witchcraft"

What's new

2026
Maria Østerby Elleby publishes two new books in 2026: "The Satan's Tumult - witch hunt in the Supreme Court" and "Fire and Flames".
2026-10
Elleby gives a lecture on "Fire and Flames" at Øbro Jagtvej Library in Copenhagen on October 21, 2026.
2026
Elleby performs at Musikhuset Aarhus on February 10, 2027 as part of an ongoing lecture tour.

Tour

KøbenhavnAarhusKøge

Tracks

Bål og brand: Heksejagt i DanmarkPopular science book about the Danish witch hunt, published 2026

Hekseri - Den store bog om magiPublished by Politikens Forlag 2024, aimed at curious children and adults

Den Satans Tumult - heksejagt i højesteretNew book about the late Danish witchcraft trials in the Supreme Court, published 2026

Trolddom (podcast)Podcast about witches and witchcraft history, produced by Sydvestjyske Museer

De sene trolddomsprocesser (ph.d.-afhandling)Research dissertation about witchcraft in the Danish Supreme Court 1664-1741, SDU 2022

HistorieCafé: Burnt at the Stake

Lectures · Slagelse 5 in the next 30 days →