MY ANCESTOR, THE WITCH, AND ME - A Story of Family, Rage, and Womanhood

  • Tracing the legacy of famous witch trial victim Sidonia von Borcke: Her descendant follows her story and draws parallels to women's situation today.
  • Brilliantly told, Juliane Schiemenz explores female rage, non-conformity, and societal expectations of women’s lives.
  • Her story inspires world literature, art and pop culture to this day! Edward Burne-Jones painted her, Theodor Fontane and Polish writers dealt with her story and heavy metal songs were created.
  • Excellent English sample translation available soon.

From witch trials to modern norms: A journey through female resistance.

Beautiful, proud, annoying - in the past, attributes like these could lead women like Sidonia von Borcke to the stake. Today, they are met with online vitriol, condescension, or mockery. Why does the fear of the non-conforming woman remain so pervasive?
Juliane Schiemenz, a descendant of Sidonia, traces the life of her legendary ancestor, who was condemned as a witch in 1620. Sidonia was described as quarrelsome and insatiable. It is hardly surprising: she never married, had no children, and instead fought for her inheritance in court. She was a nuisance to the men of her time.

For her descendant, this constellation feels strikingly familiar. Even today, women who stand their ground and refuse to remain silent are often labeled as "difficult" or "angry." Whether single parents, divorced, employed or not, women continue to face systemic criticism for their life choices.

In a compelling blend of historical research and autobiographical exploration, Juliane Schiemenz uncovers the expectations placed on women’s lives both then and now. She reveals how deeply rooted the prejudices against non-conforming women truly are. This book is a courageous, personal plea to resist the pressure of societal norms and to forge one’s own path.

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  • Publisher: Rowohlt Berlin
  • Release: 06.10.2026
  • ISBN: 978-3-7371-0249-0
  • 336 Pages
  • Author: Juliane Schiemenz

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Buchcover von MY ANCESTOR, THE WITCH, AND ME - A Story of Family, Rage, and Womanhood: Eine Geschichte von Familie, Wut und Weiblichkeit
Juliane SchiemenzMY ANCESTOR, THE WITCH, AND ME - A Story of Family, Rage, and Womanhood
Portrait von Juliane Schiemenz
© Amac Garbe / www.amacgarbe.de
Juliane Schiemenz

Juliane Schiemenz , born in 1981, studied German Literature and Communication Science before graduating from the prestigious German School of Journalism. Based in Dresden, she worked as a long-time editor for the magazine Reportagen . Today, she writes for leading publications including Deutschlandfunk Kultur , Die Zeit , Neue Zürcher Zeitung , and Der Spiegel . Her reports have been nominated for several major awards, including the Henri Nannen Prize and the German Reporter Prize .