Der Winterkönig. Geschichten des Dreißigjährigen Krieges: Historischer Roman

Der Winterkönig was written by Jörg Olbrich and published in 2021 as a historical novel centered on the complex and devastating period of the Thirty Years' War. The narrative is designed to immerse readers in the political and religious volatility of 17th-century Europe, focusing on the figure of Frederick V of the Palatinate, known as the Winter King, whose short reign in Bohemia sparked one of the deadliest conflicts in continental history.

The work belongs to the tradition of German historical fiction that seeks to synthesize academic research with compelling prose to make the intricacies of the Early Modern period accessible to a wider audience. Olbrich’s approach to the text prioritizes the atmosphere of the era, reflecting the grim realities of warfare alongside the courtly intrigue that defined the period, and it is received primarily by enthusiasts of Central European history and the literature of the Baroque age.