Until Else Jerusalem turned her back on the city of Vienna in 1911, her scandalous novel "The Holy Scarab," which was first published in 1909, had already seen over 20 new editions. In this book, condemned as a "novel of immorality," the already widely known author offers a ruthless look at the hedonism and vices of the bourgeoisie in late 19th-century Vienna. Through the vibrant activities in the so-called "Rothaus," which quickly transforms from a disreputable dive into one of the most prestigious and frequented erotic salons in the city, she not only depicts the rise and fall of a single brothel but also creates a critical and insightful social and societal study. For the first time in the history of Austrian literature, the focus here is on life.