The Snow Man

In a deserted château on a frozen lake in Dalecarlia, Sweden, around 1770, age and winter have turned a once-lived-in chamber into a haunted relic of dead clocks, faded portraits, dust, and spiderwebs. Into this bleak northern stillness come Cristiano, an itinerant performer with a sharp tongue and a strict moral code, his companion Puffo, and their weary ass, Jean, all driven by snow, hunger, and the need for shelter. As Cristiano explores the eerie room, he discovers a hidden passage and senses the house's secrets closing in around him. Soon M. Goefle, an elderly advocate from Gevala, arrives with his grandson Nils and the frightened caretaker Ulphilas, who fears the place is haunted and entrusts Goefle with a sealed box to be opened only after his death. Their conversation hints at a buried family crime, a powerful baron, and a contested mineral claim, while the old château's comic unease deepens into real suspense. From Gothic mystery the story shifts into theatrical wit as Goefle joins Cristiano in lessons on puppetry, voice, gesture, and improvisation. What follows is a lively blend of law, performance, and social satire, where illusion becomes art and survival depends on invention. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.