 Meinhold claimed to have discovered a manuscript written by a 17th-century minister, Abraham Schweidler (purportedly a pastor of Coserow and known for his fire and brimstone sermons) amongst rubbish in the choir of the old Coserow church.The manuscript contained the story of the pastor's daughter Maria, the "Amber Witch".The tale was described by Meinhold, in the subtitle of the novel, as "the most interesting trial for witchcraft ever known".