A Scandal in Königsberg

by Christopher Clark

Named a Best Book of the Year by TheTimes (London)

As told by one of our greatest historians, the story of the scandal that took down two Lutheran preachers in the heart of nineteenth-century Prussia—a chamber piece of cultish esotericism, pseudoscience, and political resistance that conjures up Europe at the end of the age of reason and presages our current age of misinformation

In 1835, Johannes Ebel and Georg Heinrich Diestel were tried for having started a cult. It was a cult that encouraged scandalous sexual behavior in women, including the daughters of prestigious Prussian families—causing the deaths of two young women from sexual exhaustion. The trial would absorb and polarize the city of Königsberg for half a decade and ruin the lives and careers of its defendants, despite their eventual legal exoneration. The historical moment it encapsulates—a Europe reeling from the triumph and horror of a new industrial, imperial era, struggling to decide which principles will reign in the aftermath of Enlightenment reason—is a fable for our present time of political, social, and existential disquiet.

The great Cambridge historian Christopher Clark—known for The Sleepwalkers, his monumental, defining study of the causes of the First World War—came across the files containing this story three decades ago; it has been swirling in his mind ever since. In gripping, narrative prose, Clark immerses us in a Königsberg scarred by the horrors of the Napoleonic Wars, where Immanuel Kant had recently inaugurated the theory of consciousness that completely reshaped humanity’s understanding of itself—but where the distinction between reason and fanaticism was now up for grabs. A Scandal in Königsberg is a European history in exquisite miniature—and a peerless lesson in the theological and philosophical debates that animated the Western world at one of its great moments of transformation.

Rich and provocative, A Scandal in Königsberg articulates an unsettling antecedent for our most fiercely litigated contemporary questions of sexual identity, freedom of thought, and who gets to decide what constitutes the truth.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Germany, Religion, World History, Cults, Historical

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurbs for A Scandal in Königsberg by Christopher Clark lean heavily into how the book can be applied to today's quagmire of misinformation. I wouldn't go so far as to say that is untrue, but I would say that people who might be misled as to what most of the book is focusing on.

The narrative follows two preachers who are pulled into a public kerfuffle involving their beliefs and whether or not there is a sex scandal going on. This is mostly based on one of the, to put it lightly, unique readings of the Bible I have ever read. (Note: The book is worth it merely for an anecdote about Immanuel Kant responding to the philosophy. I am still laughing.) There is a trial. Fin.

This is a very short book. The total page count is less than 200 pages and some of that is notes and such. I'd say at least half of that page count is a history of Königsberg and the surrounding area as well as philosophy. The rest is about the respective characters and the plot.

I'd liken this book to The Faithful Executioner by Joel Harrington. This also follows a story set in the middle of Europe and gives a window into everyday life and beliefs of the people inhabiting the time and space. However, I wouldn't tell just anyone to read it. You have to love history and be willing to read a book for the experience of being dropped into a place you can't conceive of without a historian guiding you. If you think this is a historical true crime with a strong story then you may be disappointed. If you want some philosophy mixed with history then this might be a great read for you.

(This book was provided as an advance review copy by NetGalley and The Penguin Press.)

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 - Christopher Clark is best known for 'Sleepwalkers', a 900 page account of how Europe went to war in 1914. It has been lingering unread in my Audible library for years...

This one is much shorter and the history it describes much smaller: 200 years ago in the Province of East Prussia two priests were accused of forming a religious sect and engaging in sexual impropriety with their followers. A real media storm developed (surprisingly, some German newspapers at the time were worse than News of the World) and the priests' careers and reputations were destroyed - "cancel culture" avant la lettre.

During this period the State was doubling down on religious activities outside the official Church doctrine. But it was also the time of the Enlightenment and increasingly clear that a literal interpretation of the Bible was becoming untenable - Christians were looking for ways to interpret scripture in line with scientific discoveries and an improved understanding of the world. This is at least what the priests attempted, but some disgruntled and jealous former community members accused them of the aforementioned crimes.

Interesting to learn something about a topic, place and time I know very little about. 3,5 stars because it also felt like a bit of a hobby project and the publisher let him have it.

[Traci Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty bored by this book. There’s clearly a lot of research here but I just didn’t care about the religious debate at the center of this book. It’s doing what it set out to do but it’s not for me.

[Florian Lorenzen]

Der australische Historiker Christopher Clark gilt spätestens seit der Veröffentlichung seiner „Schlafwandler“, in welcher er die Juli-Krise 1914 (die schließlich in den ersten Weltkrieg münde) minutiös rekonstruierte, als einer der besten Kenner deutscher Geschichte. Sein großes Werk „Preußen. Aufstieg und Niedergang. 1600–1947“ aus dem Jahr 2006 gehört bis heute zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsbüchern. Somit war ich ziemlich begeistert, als ich von der Publikation seines neusten Werks „Skandal in Königsberg“ erfuhr. Meinen hohen Erwartungen gerecht werden konnte dieses Büchlein jedoch nicht.

Doch zunächst zum Inhalt: „Ein Skandal in Königsberg“ erzählt die wahre Geschichte eines Skandals, der sich in den späten 1830er-Jahre in der ostpreußischen Hauptstadt Königsberg ereignete. Den beiden lutherischen Predigern Johann Wilhelm Ebel & Georg Heinrich Diestel wird zum Vorwurf gemacht, eine Art Sekte gegründet und in dieser unzüchtige Lehren verbreitet zu haben. Die Geschichte dieses Skandals, des sich daran anschließenden Gerichtsprozesses sowie des Werdegangs der zentralen Protagonisten wird von Clark gewohnt solide und preußen-romantisch nacherzählt.

Etwas holprig wird es jedoch in dem Moment, in dem Clark diesen Skandal mit mehr Bedeutung und Relevanz für die heutige Zeit auflädt, als dieser Geschichte realistischerweise inhärent ist. Ein Beispiel: Clark sieht in der Figur des Prediger Ebel – aufgrund seines femininen Auftretens – eine Art „queeres Wesen“ und interpretiert das rabiate Vorgehen des preußischen Staates gegen ihn als Reaktion auf einen Verstoß gegen die „patriarchale Ordnung“. Am Ende ist das alles nicht so „woke“ geschrieben, wie es sich in diesen Zeilen vielleicht anhören mag. Dennoch würde ich der Auslegung Clarks eine gewisse Über-Interpretation attestieren, wodurch sich für mich auch die Frage stellt, ob der geschilderte Vorgang wirklich ein 200-Seiten-Langes Buch wert gewesen ist.

Für mich leider das bisher schwächste Buch von Christopher Clark

Review auf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTcmQMuAviv

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a short nonfiction about about a sexual scandal involving lutheran pastors - well researched and a very interesting premise but i felt like half the book was infodumping about königsberg, i wanted more immanuel kant!

[uk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein Gesellschaftsstück aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.
In dem Religion benutzt wird.
Wieder einmal.
Diesmal, um bürgerliche Existenzen zu vernichten.

q. e. d.

[Mathijs Loo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeer verfrissend om eens geen uit de kluiten gewassen studie van Chris Clark te lezen. Waarschijnlijk gaat dit boek een voetnoot in zijn carrière worden, maar Clark weet een boeiende geschiedenis neer te zetten van een rechtzaak tegen een christelijke sekte in het Königsberg van 1835.

[CasserresBoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Social history is always a way to understand future sociaty. The author bring us a detailed account of a religious scandal in the first half of the XIX century Prusia. A period after the Napoleon invation, where enlightment and reason colliade againts religion and imagination. In the end, pure souls straglying to make sense of their reality are unjustly acused of herasy and sex ofenses , and comdemned under obscure law proceedings.

[Johannes · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5

Let's start by the beginning by acknowledging I didn't like it, I'm simply giving it a 2 starts review for it is a book, a very well researched one I might add, by Christopher Clark which in itself is a mark of quality if there was ever one. Clark is a very detailed-oriented, able storyteller of pretty much unknown subjects, especially those of the defunct kingdom of Prussia. And here perhaps I should give some context, on his amazing "Iron Kingdom" Clark devotes a whole chapter of his book to the religious issues on Prussia in between Lutherans and Catholics, and why this was such a big issue for the kingdom. It is amazing he got to manage so much information into a cohesive narration but it also explains why Penguin chose to use such a small font on its printing as to fit it all. I'm sure there was much back and forth in between his editor trying to rein him in without much success so... back to "A Scandal in Königsberg". It's amazing this book was published in the first place given how uninteresting and arid the subject is, I struggled to keep interest through most of it, again, not Clark's fault, it is just ever so boring, and I love history, especially Prussian one. There is little written over Königsberg, the real Prussia, the area that named the kingdom and allowed its creation on the first place but perhaps the topic wasn't the best.

The book has over 300 pages and almost 80 are his notes, so perhaps that says a lot about it. I'm sad I didn't enjoy it but alas, it is a fact nonetheless.

[Bookish Tokyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember being fascinated as a child by the splinter of Russian territory that sticks into the side of Europe. A place on the map that draws the eye and makes one curious about its history and geography. Although initially I had hoped for a straightforward history of the territory, what I got instead was something completely different, but also incredibly interesting. 
. 
Clark paints well the rather ugly city and province of Konigsberg, the city just recovering from Napoleon was yearning for profound experiences away from the prevailing dry rationalism on offer in the city churches and universities. People were looking for something more. In comes two harmless eccentric preachers inspired by the self-made preacher Schonherr who believed it was two primordial eggs, one of light and the other water that created the earth. The former being ostensibly male and the latter female. They were bound in a union and through this theory one could explain everything.
.
The two preachers were personable, friendly and imbued themselves into high society. Especially popular with high society women who were desperate to understand the chaotic world in which they live. Ultimately this disturbed the establishment. Rumours began to form of wild sex parties, debauched behavior and kinky sex. Accusations reflected in many ways the proclivities of the accusers themselves. All this of course was false, but it didn’t stop the subsequent trial or the gossip of wild sex orgies.
.
A fascinating read. Lightly handled but still gives a good impression of both Koenigsberg and the scandal, which now seems all slightly ridiculous. A huge thank you to penguin and netgalley for the advanced copy. It’s out now in all good bookshops!

[Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

Critics and readers alike praise Clark for his expansive, sweeping histories. For instance, The Sleepwalkers is an award-winning account of the origins of The Great War. His audience often reaches for hyperbole to praise this work. Here, he proves just as much skill at narrating smaller forms of history. Ebel, a young heterodox preacher, finds himself embroiled in a scandal that enthralls not only Königsberg (today Kaliningrad) but the eminent theologians, philosophers, and statesmen of the German-speaking world. For a book about a church dispute, I was surprised at how gripping it was.

The book is not without flaws. First, the speculation about Ebel’s sexuality feels underdeveloped. While efforts to understand queer history are appreciated, the evidence felt unsatisfactory, e.g., that he bathed with a group of women or that he was viewed as effeminate. Second, Clark included some fictional dialogues between involved figures, seemingly with the intent of enlivening them as characters. These sections were reminiscent of the use of a similar device by Schleiermacher, but I found it didactic at points.

These criticisms aside, A Scandal in Königsberg is a delightful read. It provides a valuable perspective into 19th-Century German social mores, and if you have an interest in the period, you should give it your attention.

Thank you to Penguin Books for the opportunity to read the ARC.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am Anfang waren zwei große Eier im Vakuum: Urlicht bzw. Urfeuer und Urfinsternis bzw. Urwasser. Ausgehend von dieser eigentümlichen Überzeugung, die Bibelglauben und Vernunft miteinander versöhnen sollte, werden zwei Prediger angeklagt, eine illegale Sekte gegründet zu haben – verstärkt durch den Vorwurf sexueller Unzucht.

Christopher Clark rekonstruiert diese Episode preußischer Religionsgeschichte. Die religiösen Befindlichkeiten sind aus heutiger Sicht kaum noch nachvollziehbar. Trotz klarer Struktur liest sich das Buch wie eine Ansammlung von Archivfunden. Mir ist es nicht gelungen, ein echtes Interesse an der Geschichte oder ihren Protagonisten zu entwickeln.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anything Chris Clark can't do?

[W.S. Luk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the scandals surrounding religious thinkers in 19th-century Königsberg seem like an obscure subject, Clark's short book bears out his point in the introduction that "resemblances to present-day persons and situations, though not intended, cannot be ruled out". This comparison hinges on how the bizarre theologies of thinkers like Johann Ebel flourished out of a blend of Christian mysticism and the philosophical/scientific currents of their time (Clark engages interestingly with how developments from the writings of Kant to the birth of the steam engine may have influenced these idiosyncratic belief systems), and the way in which the nascent news media and public sphere were mobilised to condemn them.

There's an intriguing point where Clark notes that the hysteria around Ebel's ideas emphasised claims that he and his disciples were sexually predatory and posed threats to young women, only for Clark's research to highlight that no records exist of women criticising Ebel's conduct, only aristocratic men professing to defend their honour. Highlighting the theological and social complexities beneath the sensationalism of this case, A SCANDAL IN KÖNIGSBERG is a fascinating study of a little-known historical controversy, even if Clark's prose is not always persuasive: the book opens with a dense and occasionally aimless profile of Königsberg's history, and Clark's fictitious vignettes of conversations between and about figures of this era are integrated awkwardly in a somewhat halfhearted effort (two such vignettes are featured) to bring novelistic flavour to the book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is actually more like 3.5. Like others have pointed out, this is heavy on the info about political and religious politics in this Prussian city in the first half of the 19th century. Something I find quite interesting, but not why I picked up the book. Essentially it's the German Romantic period colliding head on with the Age of Enlightenment and winning, but not without a battle.

However, when it does hit harder on the actual scandal, it's fascinating and kind of hilarious. The newspaper accounts are priceless. I can imagine the head of the household forbidding his womenfolk and servants from reading the newspaper and then marching off after breakfast with the paper into his library, locking the door and having a jolly good time being a) shocked, SHOCKED and b) gloriously titillated by all the details. The fact that it was mainly made up was completely irrelevant.

There is a particularly loathsome doctor who plays a somewhat important role who just goes to show that misogyny has a long, respectable history (when accused by a noblewoman of sexual assault his excuse was the classic, Trump-approved, "HER? That dried-up old bag? She wishes!).

It does have echoes of today's misinformation (these people would have loved Fox News, Twitter and TikTok), as well as heavy does of culture wars, the fear of women not doing as they're told, religious fanaticism, and the gentry really needing to get better hobbies.

[Anne O'Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Clark’s writing is clear and engaging throughout his lengthy books Revolutionary Spring (try the audiobook – Clark gives a riveting performance) and The Sleepwalkers. In A Scandal in Königsberg he’s as unstuffy as ever but on a smaller scale. Even on this more limited canvas he gives the reader plenty of background to understand the context in which clergyman Johann Ebel was accused of leading a sect that followed the teachings of an oddball theosopher and ‘encouraged his followers to engage in gross sexual impropriety’. His friend pastor Heinrich Diestel became embroiled in the scandal when he tried sticking up for Ebel.
Clark treats us to a story where pigheadedness and arrogance combine in personal attacks under the guise of clerical propriety. It’s both fine scholarship and entertainingly gossipy. And it has a playful ending of an imagined conversation between a writer and a philosopher reminiscing about the time of the scandal. I recommend A Scandal in Königsberg if you’d like a glimpse of how badly some ostensibly respectable people behaved in the far corner of East Prussia in the 1830s.
Thanks to Penguin Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Leon Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply outstanding book by a world renowned historian.

A Scandal in Konigsberg focuses on a relatively minor religious scandal and subsequent trial in 1830s Prussia. The author accepts early on that there are not as many sources available to him as he would like to draw definitive conclusions in the matter and this only makes the questions that the book raises more compelling.

The events described touch on organised religion and theosophy, the power of charisma in influencing others, gender roles and sex and sexuality, the role of the media and the power of fake news (as well as a touch of class identification thrown in for good measure). Each of these themes remain pertinent today and the outcome of the events seem oddly contemporary.

Clark has written a short history book that is also a morality tale. I'm sure that it will demand reading more than once and every time invite the reader to draw different conclusions.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christopher Clark is a respected historian, best known for his work, 'The Sleepwalkers,' about the beginning of World War I. This is a much slimmer work, based around a scandal in the Baltic port city of Konigsberg, which apparently has long interested Clark.

It involves two preachers, Johann Ebel and Heinrich Diestel and allegations of sexual impropriety. Clark is very clever here in making modern links between disquiet over a sect founded by Johann Heinrich Schonherr (not a very successful sect to be fair), rumours, disquiet and concern about the popularity of Ebel in particular and the way these attacks destroyed reputations.

It is a salutory tale in these days of conspiracy theories, fake news, social media outrage and populism. One which is well worth reading.

[Kees Paalvast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never judge a book by its title. You'll be disappointed if you think this will be a story of Rasputin-like proportions.
In fact it is a small history about two preachers who had friends in high places of 1830 Königsberg. It is not as interesting as the title suggests (nor the jubilant review in my newspaper), unless you like to split hairs on theological and theosophical questions.
Unfortunately a lot of the archives about this case are destroyed after WWII, which is pitiful for the details of the story.
And one thing's for sure: also Protestant history has its witch hunts and their own form of Inquisition.
The closing chapter is the best one, where the author discloses the homophobic extent of the history.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skandal im Sperrbezirk

This much abbreviated (compared to Clark's Revolutionary Spring and The Sleepwalkers) history also shows a much more intimate story presented with more character development - something a bit lacking in his earlier works. An enjoyable piece of history and also a good overview of 19th-century Königsberg culture.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Scandal in Koenigsberg is a rather dull work about an episode in East Prussian history of interest primarily to scholars of obscure religious movements. I was hoping for more, especially about East Prussia and its society in this time period (early 1800s), but the text contained far too much about endless arguments about beliefs and interpretations of beliefs.

[Richard Verschuren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit boek was een beetje zonde van mijn geld. Het zou gaan over een schandaal...nou helaas viel dat reuze mee. Het zal best een 'schandaal' zijn geweest in de 19e eeuw in Pruisen. Tegenwoordig worden dit soort roddels en zwartmakerij al heel snel als nepnieuws bestempeld.
Het is vooral een boek over de verschillende gedachten die in die tijd ontstonden over hoe de bijbel te interpreteren. Kortom een gesteggel (je mag het ook filosoferen noemen) over theologische onderwerpen. Dus voor mensen die erg in theologische discussies geinteresseerd zijn een must.

[Ben Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was excellent - a fascinating look at social contracts, the church, gender, Germany. highly recommend. Side note that may be a bit insensitive - if you took out every word that wasn't a name, you could publish this is as a humor book. German names (similar to Dutch) cannot be real

[Luísa Bokor · Rating 5 out of 5]

wirklich interessant & lustig

[Susu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein eher unbekanntes Stück Geschichte aus Königsberg. Um Schönherr, den Begründer einer esoterisch angehauchten Sekte und zwei Prediger, die sich auf ihn eingelassen hatten und von Abweichlern der Sekte angeklagt werden. Ein interessantes Stück preussischer Geschichte.

[Kristin Martini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew my brother (a Lutheran pastor) was up to no good…

It’s helpful if disappointing to know that things have sort of always been the same. Gossip, rumors, and all the rest.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and only mildly interesting. This feels like it should have been part of a longer book about religious upheaval in Enlightenment-era Prussia or something. Strange and sort of empty on its own.

[Brian Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

So digressive during the early part, it's hard to see where we are going. Hard to care about the protagonists.

[Kip Kyburz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing and immersive little history.

[Alex]

Not the kind of of history I'm into