History has judged Elisabeth Forster-Nietzsche to have been the most damning influence on Friedrich Nietzsche’s memory and philosophical contributions. She stands condemned of distorting his works through forgery and willful misinterpretation of his philosophies to better suit her anti-Semitic agenda. There is no doubt that Elisabeth’s stance on, and response to, “The Jewish Question” was devastatingly reprehensible, and that her actions contributed to the festering of to the most horrific genocide in modern history. However, we must remember that human actions are born of past influences. Through this work of literary fiction, God is a Bedlamite: Channeling Elisabeth Nietzsche, Katie Salvo explores the rise and fall of the incestuous relationship between Elisabeth and Friedrich and the ensuing impact their love affair may have had on Elisabeth’s perception of self and the world around her.
As an antidote to empty-nest syndrome, Katie Salvo is putting her degree in political science to good use through writing. An existentialist at heart, her favorite philosophers are Friedrich Nietzsche, Georg Hegel, and Baruch Spinoza. She lives in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with her incredibly supportive husband, Jorge.