The Whore

The story is set in the Middle Ages, at a time when the Church is struggling to maintain its moral authority and three Popes are fighting for power. In 1414 cardinals, abbots and bishops from the territories of Spain, France, the Italian city-states and all over Europe descend on the Holy Roman Empire to reunite the Catholic Church at the Council of Constance.

Marie Schaerer, the charming and beautiful daughter of a wealthy and widowed cloth merchant, has lived a privileged life in Constance. Strong willed, her devoted father has denied her nothing – not even her childhood friendship with Michel Adler, whose family is poor.

As they grew older, their friendship flowered into love. So when her father Mathis decides that Marie will be married to the lawyer Ruppertus Splendidus, the illegitimate son of a Duke, Marie violently protests. Not only may she no longer see Michel; she also instinctively distrusts Ruppertus. Still, she must bow to herfather’s will – with fateful consequences.

Mathis signs the marital agreement which guarantees that the bride is a virgin, or Ruppertus will be awarded all of her father’s wealth. On the night before their wedding, an official appears at the door with two witnesses and accuses Marie of being a whore.

She is thrown into a cell and that night brutally raped by Ruppertus’ accomplices. Having been robbed of her innocence, the Church court passes the standard and horrible sentence for harlotry: Marie is to be whipped in public and banned from the city of Constance for life.

Injured and close to death, she is found by a group of traveling whores. Hiltrud, who is treating her wounds, quickly becomes her closest friend. Wandering from place to place and now branded a whore, Marie’s only chance of survival is to become one. Hiltrud initiates her in the art of love and Marie turns out to be the most beautiful, sophisticated and desired among the harlots.




The driving force keeping Marie alive is her intense hatred of the man who has ruined her life and her burning determination to get revenge.

One day she again encounters Michel, who has in the meantime gained honor and fortune as a captain in a fine regiment. He has always believed Marie to be dead, but never stopped loving her. Torn, she cannot go off with him; she must first bring her disgrace – and her hatred – to an end.

Her goal seems to be within reach when she and Hiltrud are chosen to spend the winter at the castle of a nobleman whose pregnant wife is paying Marie to be her husband’s mistress. Marie discovers that Ruppertus is scheming a vicious plan and force the family to hand over their family fortune. To prevent him from putting his plan into action, Marie takes a bold risk.

Blending in among the colorful masses of clergymen and noblemen attending the Council that are crowding the city streets of Constance with their entourages, Marie sneaks back into her hometown. There the stage is set for a final showdown, with the long-awaited revenge finally within her grasp...