Christopher Clark in Conversation with Katja Hoyer – Daunt Books

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On Monday 1st September 2025, Daunt Books Marylebone welcomes acclaimed historian Christopher Clark in conversation with German-British historian Katja Hoyer to discuss his compelling new book A Scandal in Königsberg.

Set in the Baltic port town of Königsberg in 1835, Clark’s work uncovers a sensational church and sex scandal that gripped the German-speaking world. At its centre were two charismatic preachers, Ebel and Diestel, whose controversial sect attracted both labourers and the gentry, and whose teachings that included a curious blend of myth, mysticism, and moral controversy, provoked whispers of impropriety. As accusations mounted, the city’s churches, civic leaders, and families found themselves torn between reason and religious fervour, culminating in the dramatic Königsberg religious trials.

In this meticulously researched microhistory, Clark explores a case that still resonates in the present-day city, now the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, revealing themes of faith, scandal, and social division that feel strikingly modern.

Christopher Clark, Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge and author of Iron Kingdom, The Sleepwalkers, and Revolutionary Spring, will discuss the book’s fascinating backdrop and its enduring relevance with Katja Hoyer, bestselling author of Beyond the Wall and Blood and Iron.

Tickets (£10) include a glass of wine or a soft drink, making for an evening of history, conversation, and insight in the heart of Marylebone.

Find out more here.