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Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire: As Told by Her Court Master, Benedict Dese�
Accused of having murdered hundreds of her servants, Countess Elizabeth Bathory was walled alive in her castle until she died. Years later, desperate to know the truth behind his infamous mother's crimes, young Count Paul seeks out the only man still alive who can tell her story: Countess Bathory's court master and confidante, Benedict Deseo. However, revealing the truth could destroy the old man's sanity and, very possibly, ruin the family reputation which the count so desperately wishes to preserve. Using real names and places, this historic novella tells the behind-the-scenes story of what happened to Countess Bathory, including her own personal torture, the rage and fear that drove her to murder her servant girls, and a gothic tale of undying love.
154 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
About the author
Kimberly L. Craft
11 books60 followersKimberly L. Craft holds bachelor and master's degrees as well as a juris (law) doctorate. She also received a Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache from the Goethe Institut in Munich. Prof. Craft has served on various faculties, including DePaul University and Florida A&M College of Law. An attorney and legal historian, Prof. Craft has spent over a decade researching the life and trial of Countess Báthory and over a year translating original source material into English.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
December 5, 2021
The Countess is a legend of horror like Dracula. Here we read about her notorious deeds in form of a fictitious dialogue between Benedict Deseo, her real love and Count Paul Nadasdy, her son. Both are old men when they meet. Benedict tells Paul how shocked he was when she told him that Count Francis couldn't have any normal intercourse with her but regularly fucked her in the arse. Well. Soon she starts punishing staff members for minor crimes like stealing honey. Her sadism grows and soon many virgin girls are beginning to die. The author manages to tell a compelling old fashioned tale with all the necessary details to keep you turning the page. Elizabeth Bathory certainly had a difficult relationship with her husband but her criminal record is absolutely outstanding even for today's standards. What moved that women and drove her into those terrible crimes? We will never know for sure but this eerie historic character will haunt the readers forever. Really recommended!
July 27, 2011
Okay, I like goth stuff, metal, vampires, witches, and true crime, but I also like romance and history. And I really liked this book because it has it all. I've been into Elizabeth Bathory since childhood and really appreciate Kimberly Craft's historical research on this fascinating and bizarre woman. I read both Infamous Lady and Private Letters, both straight up history books and both excellent since they offer info that you can't find anywhere else. What I like about this new book though is that it's historical but it's also fiction, and I feel like I'm right there, back in the 1500s with Countess Bathory. I finally get why she got so crazy, why she killed people and yet seemed so normal. Something about the way this is written, it makes you feel like the author somehow went in a time machine to find out all of this and then came back to share it in a book, it's that real. In any case, I really felt like I was in a time machine. The descriptions were vivid. I will warn you: there are some killer sex scenes and some torture and some twisted psychology going on, but nothing that you wouldn't expect from a famous serial killer. There's also a love story, and that was quite a bonus, especially since it's not just thrown in. It makes sense, and it's not your typical Hollywood crap.
June 4, 2012
This is not your typical light romance novel and it is not for the faint of heart, that said, I will say it is a very good book. Like “50 Shades of Gray”, there is reference to very erotic and disturbing BDSM scenes, but in a sense it is actually more appropriate and tastefully done in this book as it reflects the time period and characters involved. Readers should go into this book with an open mind and should also have some prior knowledge of Elizabeth Bathory, who was a notorious serial killer back in the 1600s. If you have some background on her and her crimes then you will appreciate the twisted scenes that are based upon what has been related about her historically. I found them to offer some insights into what she may have been like and why and how the misogyny and brutality of the time period and her strange background may have led to her insanity. Even though the book has startling moments of violence, there is a bit of a bittersweet love story woven into the background between the narrator, Benedict Deseo, and his point of view and back-story of events that involved him and the young Countess Bathory. We also appreciate the quest of a young man, Paul Nadasdy, who is trying to find out the truth about his mother and what really happened to her. Ultimately, there is a reckoning that comes at the end of the story, which leaves the reader an opportunity to imagine a happier ending for the characters (in the style of Atonement) than what may have been the harsh reality. Again, you have to have an open mind and not be squeamish or easily offended by S&M or homo-erotic sexuality to read this book, otherwise you will be deeply disturbed by it. If you can handle or read past certain scenes, then you will enjoy the emotional story behind it. Those who are quick to judge this book negatively simply cannot appreciate the history or back-story behind it.
April 16, 2012
I'm torn about this book. I was definitely intrigued, but I think that was more because of the actual historical story than the writing. Craft needed an editor to help her out with formatting (because it drove me up a wall). I also think she fell victim to a new fiction writer faux pas. It felt like she was thinking, "Okay, I have all this information I want to tell my readers, let me get two characters together and one will tell a story." It did make me want to learn more about Elizabeth Bathory and I would definitely give her nonfiction account a try.
July 21, 2011
I became a fan of Craft's work after reading both of her groundbreaking, non-fiction titles about Countess Elizabeth Bathory, Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory and The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory. I was hooked and hopeful that this author would eventually release just one more book about this most "Infamous Lady", one that would still stay true to the history surrounding the Countess, yet let loose just a little bit and entice those of us who have a taste for a touch of the lurid and ghoulish. As a lover of history, powerful women, and all things gothic, I am pleased to say that Dr. Craft has certainly delivered on that, and then some.
Disturbing, provocative, yet poignant, "Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire" is an unusual, yet compelling story recollecting how the young Countess Bathory's tormented soul and broken heart would eventually lead her down a twisted path that would ultimately turn her into a monster. The tale is brought to life through the eyes of her most trusted confidante, a man who loved her, feared her, and who is taunted by the memories of all that he witnessed. This book gives us a front-row seat to the macabre and it truly has something for everyone. It is a heady blend of fact and fearless fiction which shines a new light on the scandalous legends that have made Countess Elizabeth Bathory infamous. It appeases scholarly followers with a solid storyline and historical background, yet, entices us with shocking details of her heinous acts of both physical and emotional cruelty. This is also a very provocative and sensual book, not meant for the overly sensitive or squeamish. In particular, it makes me think of a passage describing a certain rosewater bath one evening in which the Countess had an indulgence, per say, with her chambermaids... I must warn that it will leave many readers breathless. My only wish is that it was a bit longer, as it is a quick read; great for the weekend or a night in. This book is a decadent treat that may just become a "nightstand" favorite.
Disturbing, provocative, yet poignant, "Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire" is an unusual, yet compelling story recollecting how the young Countess Bathory's tormented soul and broken heart would eventually lead her down a twisted path that would ultimately turn her into a monster. The tale is brought to life through the eyes of her most trusted confidante, a man who loved her, feared her, and who is taunted by the memories of all that he witnessed. This book gives us a front-row seat to the macabre and it truly has something for everyone. It is a heady blend of fact and fearless fiction which shines a new light on the scandalous legends that have made Countess Elizabeth Bathory infamous. It appeases scholarly followers with a solid storyline and historical background, yet, entices us with shocking details of her heinous acts of both physical and emotional cruelty. This is also a very provocative and sensual book, not meant for the overly sensitive or squeamish. In particular, it makes me think of a passage describing a certain rosewater bath one evening in which the Countess had an indulgence, per say, with her chambermaids... I must warn that it will leave many readers breathless. My only wish is that it was a bit longer, as it is a quick read; great for the weekend or a night in. This book is a decadent treat that may just become a "nightstand" favorite.
April 17, 2012
I really liked this book. It seems that people either love it or hate it, and I suppose I know why. If you're looking for a nice romance, chick lit, or light historical fiction, do NOT read this book. Yes, it has an element of romance, but it is very much a gothic tale with graphic scenes and violence. Also, if you do not know who Elizabeth Bathory is or anything about her twisted history, you likely will not understand this book. That said, if you know about the world's worst female serial killer, if you know something of her history and want more of a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at her through the eyes of a trusted (and tortured) servant, then you will likely find this book fascinating.
The author captures the time period, along with its customs, precisely. (I am a medieval/renaissance historian and can vouch for the authenticity.) The story moves along at a good clip, never leaving the reader bored, and if you have a penchant for the macabre, the goulish, and find yourself to be a little bit of a "bad girl" or "bad boy," various scenes in this story will leave you absolutely titilated.
This is NOT for the faint of heart. If, however, you enjoy being a bit shocked or having a book make you think, then you will definitely enjoy this. Oh, and regarding one reader's comments (and complaints) about the author's formatting, the author chooses to italicize portions as a vehicle to indicate time shifts. It is unfortunate this reader did not understand that. Also, the author tells the story in various voices--it is not, contrary to one reader's criticism, all in the same voice.
Happy reading.
The author captures the time period, along with its customs, precisely. (I am a medieval/renaissance historian and can vouch for the authenticity.) The story moves along at a good clip, never leaving the reader bored, and if you have a penchant for the macabre, the goulish, and find yourself to be a little bit of a "bad girl" or "bad boy," various scenes in this story will leave you absolutely titilated.
This is NOT for the faint of heart. If, however, you enjoy being a bit shocked or having a book make you think, then you will definitely enjoy this. Oh, and regarding one reader's comments (and complaints) about the author's formatting, the author chooses to italicize portions as a vehicle to indicate time shifts. It is unfortunate this reader did not understand that. Also, the author tells the story in various voices--it is not, contrary to one reader's criticism, all in the same voice.
Happy reading.
August 8, 2019
A short quick Novella to wade through. My 3 star rating is based primarily on the fact there is nothing really new or different about the story. I appreciate the author trying to fill in a motivation for the crimes. However, I'm not buying it. My personal theory is probably too boring and therefore not worthy of fiction. I believe she was mentally ill and/or her undiagnosed "head problems" and blackouts (thought to be epilepsy ) was in fact a brain tumor in an area of the brain that caused her to act the way she did.
But back to this book--
I know when writing history about a real person staying true to given facts is important but like I said I learned absolutely nothing. I had hoped for at least one new insight. Now in the defense of the author, as you might expect , I'm pretty well versed in Eastern European history and Erzsebet Bathory has always intrigued me so I've read a lot already.
3*/3.69*
But back to this book--
I know when writing history about a real person staying true to given facts is important but like I said I learned absolutely nothing. I had hoped for at least one new insight. Now in the defense of the author, as you might expect , I'm pretty well versed in Eastern European history and Erzsebet Bathory has always intrigued me so I've read a lot already.
3*/3.69*
September 6, 2012
Oh Lord. The writing style was dreadful, the format reminiscent of a grade school book report. I found the dialogue laughable, the descriptions forced, and the glaring issue of entire scenes lifted out of her nonfiction work - verbatim. The characters are also jarringly one-dimensional, and we are offered nothing beyond only the most basic of motivations to drive them. There is no arc, no spectrum, no crescendo. Skip this and read her nonfiction if you want an engaging story - it's far better written.
April 17, 2012
Blech...
December 10, 2014
Torture porn
Die ungarische Gräfin Erzsébet Báthory gehört in die Reihe von Menschen, die uns heute noch faszinieren können: Serienmörder, Sadisten und Soziopathen. Bei vielen geschichtlichen Persönlichkeiten, denen man solche Neigungen zuschreibt, muss man aufpassen; oft genug stand eine Agenda dahinter (starke Frauen wurden in der Geschichte eher ungern gesehen, man vergleiche die Schmutzkampagne gegen Wu Zetian). Dieser Roman, verfasst von einer Sachbuchautorin zum selben Thema, lässt allerdings keine Fragen offen: Báthory war eine schwer gestörte Serienmörderin, die hunderte von Menschen, meist junge Mädchen, sadistisch quälte, dann ermordete und die Körper von ihren Bediensteten entsorgen ließ - die irgendwann große Probleme hatten, noch Ablageorte zu finden, denn Burg und Umgebung quollen über vor entstellten Leichen. Ein herrliches Tableau für einen Romanautor.
Leider lässt, trotz des blutigen Themas, die literarische Qualität des Romans zu wünschen übrig. Der Aufbau ist ungeschickt, die Form der "Erinnerungserzählung" eher plump umgesetzt. Man spürt, dass die Autorin die Fakten im Griff hat, und etwas bemüht einen Rahmen um die historischen Fakten zu stricken versucht. Gespickt wird das ganze mit einem deftigen Vokabular, das hin und wieder deplatziert wirkt, und wohl die Verbindung von Brutalität mit Erotik darstellen soll.
Letztlich ist auch die Charakterisierung der Gräfin unentschlossen - es werden immer wieder Erklärungshinweise für ihre Taten eingeworfen, ihre schlimme Kindheit (das ist wohl das Klischee schlechthin geworden), ihr brutaler Ehemann, der seine Homosexualität nicht verarbeiten kann und es an ihr auslässt, ihr Umfeld, das unglücklicherweise scheinbar nur aus Psychopathen besteht. Die etwas künstliche Liebesgeschichte zwischen Diener und Gräfin wirkt auch aufgesetzt. Das ist mir alles zu sehr Hobbypsychologie.
Mich lässt dieses Buch recht ratlos zurück, und weckt Zweifel, ob ich das Sachbuch, das dieselbe Autorin über die Gräfin Báthory geschrieben hat, wirklich lesen soll oder doch lieber eins eines anderen Autors, zum Beispiel Heroine Des Grauens. Aber vielleicht bewahrtheitet sich, dass ein guter Sachbuchautor nicht unbedingt ein guter Romanschreiber sein muss - durch Umkehrschluss könnte das bedeuten, dass das Sachbuch nicht die Mängel dieses Romans aufweist.
Die ungarische Gräfin Erzsébet Báthory gehört in die Reihe von Menschen, die uns heute noch faszinieren können: Serienmörder, Sadisten und Soziopathen. Bei vielen geschichtlichen Persönlichkeiten, denen man solche Neigungen zuschreibt, muss man aufpassen; oft genug stand eine Agenda dahinter (starke Frauen wurden in der Geschichte eher ungern gesehen, man vergleiche die Schmutzkampagne gegen Wu Zetian). Dieser Roman, verfasst von einer Sachbuchautorin zum selben Thema, lässt allerdings keine Fragen offen: Báthory war eine schwer gestörte Serienmörderin, die hunderte von Menschen, meist junge Mädchen, sadistisch quälte, dann ermordete und die Körper von ihren Bediensteten entsorgen ließ - die irgendwann große Probleme hatten, noch Ablageorte zu finden, denn Burg und Umgebung quollen über vor entstellten Leichen. Ein herrliches Tableau für einen Romanautor.
Leider lässt, trotz des blutigen Themas, die literarische Qualität des Romans zu wünschen übrig. Der Aufbau ist ungeschickt, die Form der "Erinnerungserzählung" eher plump umgesetzt. Man spürt, dass die Autorin die Fakten im Griff hat, und etwas bemüht einen Rahmen um die historischen Fakten zu stricken versucht. Gespickt wird das ganze mit einem deftigen Vokabular, das hin und wieder deplatziert wirkt, und wohl die Verbindung von Brutalität mit Erotik darstellen soll.
Letztlich ist auch die Charakterisierung der Gräfin unentschlossen - es werden immer wieder Erklärungshinweise für ihre Taten eingeworfen, ihre schlimme Kindheit (das ist wohl das Klischee schlechthin geworden), ihr brutaler Ehemann, der seine Homosexualität nicht verarbeiten kann und es an ihr auslässt, ihr Umfeld, das unglücklicherweise scheinbar nur aus Psychopathen besteht. Die etwas künstliche Liebesgeschichte zwischen Diener und Gräfin wirkt auch aufgesetzt. Das ist mir alles zu sehr Hobbypsychologie.
Mich lässt dieses Buch recht ratlos zurück, und weckt Zweifel, ob ich das Sachbuch, das dieselbe Autorin über die Gräfin Báthory geschrieben hat, wirklich lesen soll oder doch lieber eins eines anderen Autors, zum Beispiel Heroine Des Grauens. Aber vielleicht bewahrtheitet sich, dass ein guter Sachbuchautor nicht unbedingt ein guter Romanschreiber sein muss - durch Umkehrschluss könnte das bedeuten, dass das Sachbuch nicht die Mängel dieses Romans aufweist.
August 2, 2011
I have great respect for Kimberly Craft's work on Elizabeth Bathory. Being intrigued by her myself I was glad to meet someone who had actually done research and translated letters written by her and others. Her biographies on Bathory were wonderful. As a researcher I understand how daunting a task like this can be. As you research a subject you start to concoct your own theories as you start trying to read between the lines, so to speak. As you cannot subject your own theories into a historically correct book the only option you have is to write your own fictional novel about your own theories. This is what Ms. Craft has done and she has done it beautifully with this novel. I can see how the fictionalized story could have possibly happened. I can see how being betrayed, even though it wasn't the person's fault that possibly betrayed her, can put someone over the edge. Especially if they had been through a personal hell of their own before. While there are graphic scenes in this book I believe they are appropriate. Bathory was not a gentle woman and definitely killed many girls, although how many may never be known. This book filled in possible missing holes in the story. While it is fictionalized I believe that it could be accurately correct about some things. Unfortunately over the centuries Bathory's story is hard to tell. Trying to separate fact from myth can be hard to do and as her name was forbidden to be spoken for a long time it also added to the mystique. As documents were lost over the centuries it had to be hard to research Bathory and, once again, I applaud Ms. Craft for undertaking this task. We will always wonder what really happened with Elizabeth Bathory and what her true story was, but I think this novel does a great job at giving us possibilities of what her life must have been like. I, for one, think it is a sad story. Not just because young girls were tortured and murdered but because Bathory must have lived a miserable life to have been capable of committing such crimes. A person just doesn't suddenly start doing things like this because they one day feel like it. There is always a catalyst and I believe that this novel may be the closest thing we will get to understanding why Bathory might have done all of the crimes she did.
August 11, 2011
After becoming highly engrossed in Dr Craft's non fiction work about Countess Bathory I was extremely excited to see that she had decided to take a stab at fiction (no pun intend). And although this book is short, it does not disappoint.
I found this story to be very character driven, and Craft fell into the narrative with such ease you'd question whether she was an old pro. Her vision of the Countess is strong and viscous and so real she leaps off the page, her familiarity with her subject is obvious. I was amazed and how strong and powerfully each character jumped off the page, even those just mentioned like 'Mrs. Anna', and the formidable Francis Nadasdy, someone who I feel is often neglected in Bathory literature. I felt some sympathy for Paul, the young Count trying to find out the truth of what happened to his mother. The idea of what those children must have gone through, living in the shadow of such infamy, is a part of the Bathory story that really stays with me, and leaves me wondering what happened to them also.
Fans of Craft's work will not be disappointed, newcomers will, I'm sure, notice the mark of true well written historical fiction. They will walk away from this wanting to know more, and won't have to look farther then the author's own non fiction work.
I loved this story so much I hope that Craft continues to write more fiction, perhaps something of the Bathory family?
I found this story to be very character driven, and Craft fell into the narrative with such ease you'd question whether she was an old pro. Her vision of the Countess is strong and viscous and so real she leaps off the page, her familiarity with her subject is obvious. I was amazed and how strong and powerfully each character jumped off the page, even those just mentioned like 'Mrs. Anna', and the formidable Francis Nadasdy, someone who I feel is often neglected in Bathory literature. I felt some sympathy for Paul, the young Count trying to find out the truth of what happened to his mother. The idea of what those children must have gone through, living in the shadow of such infamy, is a part of the Bathory story that really stays with me, and leaves me wondering what happened to them also.
Fans of Craft's work will not be disappointed, newcomers will, I'm sure, notice the mark of true well written historical fiction. They will walk away from this wanting to know more, and won't have to look farther then the author's own non fiction work.
I loved this story so much I hope that Craft continues to write more fiction, perhaps something of the Bathory family?
April 18, 2012
Awesome book. Perfect read before bed if you like something compelling, edgy, and shocking. Yes, Elizabeth Bathory was a psycho serial killer who was eventually walled alive in her castle for her crimes. So, just imagine what she did as a young person....or what made her into a crazy person years later. It was a sick world back then. Seriously. I highly recommend this author's book, Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsebet Bathory, for the non-fiction account of what went on. If this book intrigued you to learn more about this fascinating and bizarre lady, then you will love Infamous Lady for the historical details.
July 11, 2013
This is not your typical chick-flick romantic books, If you're not familiar with Elizabeth Bathory and her bloody history I would't possibility recommend it.
I can't string any coherent thoughts and put together to better fit into this review; all in all, it's brilliant.
I can't string any coherent thoughts and put together to better fit into this review; all in all, it's brilliant.
September 2, 2011
Favorite one. Great story!
December 2, 2018
Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory was a medieval Hungarian countess who supposedly tortured and killed hundreds of girls and bathed in their blood to keep herself young. Her story has been exaggerated a lot over the years. There's no evidence she really bathed in blood, and the number of dead girls was wildly inflated. In fact, it's even possible that she was completely innocent (see Tony Thorne's book, Countess Dracula: The Life and Times of Elisabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess.)
Kimberly Craft has written the best non-fiction book making the case that Elizabeth was indeed guilty of at least some of the crimes she was accused of (Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory), so I was interested to see how she'd tell the tale in a fictional manner.
Since the historical record is often spotty, there's a lot we don't know. Writing a fictional version of the story frees Craft up to explore what may have happened, given what little we do know. Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire: As Told by Her Court Master, Benedict Deseö is the result.
I must admit, I was surprised by how sexually explicit the book is, although, given that Elizabeth Bathory is the subject of the novella, I probably should have expected it. This is a very sensationalist account with Elizabeth even drinking blood at one point.
The story is told by Benedict Deseo to Elizabeth Bathory's son Paul years after Elizabeth herself has died. I personally didn't think the framing story was necessary. For one thing, it didn't make sense for Benedict to be the one telling the story since we sometimes get Elizabeth's point of view in the flashbacks. It's also sometimes unclear what Benedict tells to Paul and what he doesn't. It was also hard to believe that Benedict would have told Paul about his parent's sex lives in such detail and using such crude words. The only reason for the framing story I could think of was to add the supernatural flourish at the end, which I also felt was unnecessary in a largely realistic story.
Elizabeth's motivation didn't make a lot of sense either. She was mad at Benedict for standing her up when they were young, but why did she never ask him to explain? Why did he never explain? Benedict's motivation also doesn't make sense. Why did he remain in love with her for so many years despite her cruelty?
I was also disappointed to find that it was written using modern language. I would have preferred more historical details as well.
I've gone back and forth over the years between thinking of Elizabeth as guilty or innocent. I know this is a work of fiction, but I felt like it made a poor case for Elizabeth's guilt. Her getting away with blatantly murdering left and right and people remaining loyal to her throughout just didn't ring true. After reading this, I'm more convinced that she was innocent than I was before.
Kimberly Craft has written the best non-fiction book making the case that Elizabeth was indeed guilty of at least some of the crimes she was accused of (Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory), so I was interested to see how she'd tell the tale in a fictional manner.
Since the historical record is often spotty, there's a lot we don't know. Writing a fictional version of the story frees Craft up to explore what may have happened, given what little we do know. Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire: As Told by Her Court Master, Benedict Deseö is the result.
I must admit, I was surprised by how sexually explicit the book is, although, given that Elizabeth Bathory is the subject of the novella, I probably should have expected it. This is a very sensationalist account with Elizabeth even drinking blood at one point.
The story is told by Benedict Deseo to Elizabeth Bathory's son Paul years after Elizabeth herself has died. I personally didn't think the framing story was necessary. For one thing, it didn't make sense for Benedict to be the one telling the story since we sometimes get Elizabeth's point of view in the flashbacks. It's also sometimes unclear what Benedict tells to Paul and what he doesn't. It was also hard to believe that Benedict would have told Paul about his parent's sex lives in such detail and using such crude words. The only reason for the framing story I could think of was to add the supernatural flourish at the end, which I also felt was unnecessary in a largely realistic story.
Elizabeth's motivation didn't make a lot of sense either. She was mad at Benedict for standing her up when they were young, but why did she never ask him to explain? Why did he never explain? Benedict's motivation also doesn't make sense. Why did he remain in love with her for so many years despite her cruelty?
I was also disappointed to find that it was written using modern language. I would have preferred more historical details as well.
I've gone back and forth over the years between thinking of Elizabeth as guilty or innocent. I know this is a work of fiction, but I felt like it made a poor case for Elizabeth's guilt. Her getting away with blatantly murdering left and right and people remaining loyal to her throughout just didn't ring true. After reading this, I'm more convinced that she was innocent than I was before.
February 6, 2016
After finishing Kimberley Craft's first fictional attempt on the story she covered so well in her non-fiction book on the same subject, Hungary's infamous blood countess Erzsebet Bathory, I was left feeling that rating this particular book would be difficult. I do wish Amazon would let us give half stars because I didn't feel 3 stars was adequate, but 2.75 would have been perfect.
I truly enjoyed Ms. Craft's non-fictional works Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory and The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory, but I found her fictional attempt to fall short. Much of what can be gleaned from this book can be found in the previous, and, in my opinion, better book "Infamous Lady", along with so much more. Granted, they are two separate genres, so it is up to the reader to decide which they would choose. I know many people do not prefer what some might see as a long historical biography full of names and dates that mean nothing to them, and therefore opt for the easier fictionalized story. I understand that, so it's good that the option is there. But if historical biographies don't seem daunting to you, pick up Infamous Lady over the novelization. Just my opinion.
Now for the reasons behind my rating: I really wanted to give this more stars...I really did! The two and a half stars I gave it straight off were for the scenes at the beginning of the book where Erzsebet's (or Elizabeth, as Ms. Craft decided to anglicize the name for the ease of the English-speaking reader) humanity shines through so brightly.
Just as with cases of serial killers today, we are often left wondering how these people behaved in childhood and adolescence, and just what it was specifically that make them so different from you or me; you know, the nature versus nurture debate. Are they just born with malfunctioning hardwire in the brain, or do they evolve over time due to external stimuli? Perhaps some are a bit of both. The author does a wonderful job in these first chapters describing Erzsebet as a quite typical teenage girl in an atypical situation, though not atypical for her position in a family of great wealth and power in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Still, it couldn't have been easy to be brought up with these expectations so early in life. I can't imagine knowing I was meant to be a broodmare for some man I've never met, and who is almost certainly related to me; that I'm expected to keep deep secrets about our messed up family trees, and above all: keep the money in the family, no matter the cost, as it will keep you above the law and the church...unless you are caught doing something truly heinous!
I remember what it is like to be a fifteen year old girl, although it feels like a lifetime ago. I remember the dreams of the future and of love so true it surely is like a fairy tale with its typical "happily ever after" ending. When Erzsebet falls head over heels in love with the son of her parent's court master (who happens to be none other than Benedict Deseo, narrator of this novel) she feels not only elation, but a sense of belonging she has never known. The already betrothed girl decides she and Benedict should run off into the sunset (as all young couples think they should, right?) and marry so that she might not only achieve her happily ever after life, but also to escape from her betrothal to Ferenc Nadasdy.
Like the Bathory family, the Nadasdy family is another of Hungary's most prominent families, and Ferenc is rumored to take pleasure in his handsome, young stable boys and soldiers- among other more disturbing rumors. Poor Benedict is so young and naive that this story made me truly believe the character Benedict actually thought it possible to save Erzsebet from this beastial man. These chapters I devoured, finding myself truly engaged in the story of two youngsters from different worlds who had no chance to be together and made the most of the time the had together. I might add for you out there who would rather not read romance, don't misunderstand me. This is not at all romance in the conventional sense of the word, but a sad attempt by to young "lovers" to defy convention. The price they pay is quick and severe once the romance is found out. And here, so says the story, is the beginning of Erzsebet's descent into the unthinkable.
After believing herself spurned by her lover, she marries Ferenc (once again the name is anglicized as Francis) Nadasdy with all the stops pulled out for a marriage of two of Hungary's mightiest families. Ferenc is consistently absent from the home on his military campaigns against the Ottoman Turks, who by this point in history, have gained a heavy foothold in Hungary. During these campaigns, Ferenc learns extraordinary methods of torture, which during his brief visits home in the first decade of their marriage, he is more than happy to teach his wife. Ferenc also has her in turn teach them to her most trusted servants. All of this part of the book was wonderful, if also severely grotesque. Historically accurate and suspenseful, they leave the reader wanting to look away from the torture preformed by the couple on young girls first in the castle, and then peasant girls from the village surrounding their castle. It's waved away from Erzsebet's conscience by the constant reinforcement that it is her job to discipline her servants and peasants harshly. But it was at about this point that I began to feel differently about the book.
It was no secret that Countess Bathory was accused of having lesbian lovers, which in itself did not bother me one bit. It was the scenes themselves where Erzsebet begins to bring her lovers, male and female, to her room and suddenly they begin reading like a combination of "Fifty Shades of Gray" and a Harlequin romance novel. It simply was too much for my taste. And I'm not even a prude! There was simply far too much emphasis on the sexual, and not enough focus on the thing that made her infamous- blood! Call me crazy but there was a severe lack of blood of any kind. When one reads a book on Bathory, the infamous "Blood Countess", I know I am not alone in expecting blood.
I don't know...It just all seemed too much in the wrong places. At times it started to read like pornography, and at others it read like a real psychological look into the "why" of these stranger-than-fiction acts of depravity. I would happily give this book 3.5 stars for the author's genuine attempt to make the young Erzsebet human, and to some extent, even likable, but I couldn't give it a full three as much as I may have wanted to, so it falls into a 2.75. I adore Kimberley Craft's non-fiction work on Bathory, but this fell short for me. I do hope that one day someone will get this story right, as many have tried but not succeeded. I'd also like to see that bloodlust we all have come to expect from Hungary's infamous lady, Erzsebet Bathory, The Blood Countess.
I truly enjoyed Ms. Craft's non-fictional works Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory and The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory, but I found her fictional attempt to fall short. Much of what can be gleaned from this book can be found in the previous, and, in my opinion, better book "Infamous Lady", along with so much more. Granted, they are two separate genres, so it is up to the reader to decide which they would choose. I know many people do not prefer what some might see as a long historical biography full of names and dates that mean nothing to them, and therefore opt for the easier fictionalized story. I understand that, so it's good that the option is there. But if historical biographies don't seem daunting to you, pick up Infamous Lady over the novelization. Just my opinion.
Now for the reasons behind my rating: I really wanted to give this more stars...I really did! The two and a half stars I gave it straight off were for the scenes at the beginning of the book where Erzsebet's (or Elizabeth, as Ms. Craft decided to anglicize the name for the ease of the English-speaking reader) humanity shines through so brightly.
Just as with cases of serial killers today, we are often left wondering how these people behaved in childhood and adolescence, and just what it was specifically that make them so different from you or me; you know, the nature versus nurture debate. Are they just born with malfunctioning hardwire in the brain, or do they evolve over time due to external stimuli? Perhaps some are a bit of both. The author does a wonderful job in these first chapters describing Erzsebet as a quite typical teenage girl in an atypical situation, though not atypical for her position in a family of great wealth and power in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Still, it couldn't have been easy to be brought up with these expectations so early in life. I can't imagine knowing I was meant to be a broodmare for some man I've never met, and who is almost certainly related to me; that I'm expected to keep deep secrets about our messed up family trees, and above all: keep the money in the family, no matter the cost, as it will keep you above the law and the church...unless you are caught doing something truly heinous!
I remember what it is like to be a fifteen year old girl, although it feels like a lifetime ago. I remember the dreams of the future and of love so true it surely is like a fairy tale with its typical "happily ever after" ending. When Erzsebet falls head over heels in love with the son of her parent's court master (who happens to be none other than Benedict Deseo, narrator of this novel) she feels not only elation, but a sense of belonging she has never known. The already betrothed girl decides she and Benedict should run off into the sunset (as all young couples think they should, right?) and marry so that she might not only achieve her happily ever after life, but also to escape from her betrothal to Ferenc Nadasdy.
Like the Bathory family, the Nadasdy family is another of Hungary's most prominent families, and Ferenc is rumored to take pleasure in his handsome, young stable boys and soldiers- among other more disturbing rumors. Poor Benedict is so young and naive that this story made me truly believe the character Benedict actually thought it possible to save Erzsebet from this beastial man. These chapters I devoured, finding myself truly engaged in the story of two youngsters from different worlds who had no chance to be together and made the most of the time the had together. I might add for you out there who would rather not read romance, don't misunderstand me. This is not at all romance in the conventional sense of the word, but a sad attempt by to young "lovers" to defy convention. The price they pay is quick and severe once the romance is found out. And here, so says the story, is the beginning of Erzsebet's descent into the unthinkable.
After believing herself spurned by her lover, she marries Ferenc (once again the name is anglicized as Francis) Nadasdy with all the stops pulled out for a marriage of two of Hungary's mightiest families. Ferenc is consistently absent from the home on his military campaigns against the Ottoman Turks, who by this point in history, have gained a heavy foothold in Hungary. During these campaigns, Ferenc learns extraordinary methods of torture, which during his brief visits home in the first decade of their marriage, he is more than happy to teach his wife. Ferenc also has her in turn teach them to her most trusted servants. All of this part of the book was wonderful, if also severely grotesque. Historically accurate and suspenseful, they leave the reader wanting to look away from the torture preformed by the couple on young girls first in the castle, and then peasant girls from the village surrounding their castle. It's waved away from Erzsebet's conscience by the constant reinforcement that it is her job to discipline her servants and peasants harshly. But it was at about this point that I began to feel differently about the book.
It was no secret that Countess Bathory was accused of having lesbian lovers, which in itself did not bother me one bit. It was the scenes themselves where Erzsebet begins to bring her lovers, male and female, to her room and suddenly they begin reading like a combination of "Fifty Shades of Gray" and a Harlequin romance novel. It simply was too much for my taste. And I'm not even a prude! There was simply far too much emphasis on the sexual, and not enough focus on the thing that made her infamous- blood! Call me crazy but there was a severe lack of blood of any kind. When one reads a book on Bathory, the infamous "Blood Countess", I know I am not alone in expecting blood.
I don't know...It just all seemed too much in the wrong places. At times it started to read like pornography, and at others it read like a real psychological look into the "why" of these stranger-than-fiction acts of depravity. I would happily give this book 3.5 stars for the author's genuine attempt to make the young Erzsebet human, and to some extent, even likable, but I couldn't give it a full three as much as I may have wanted to, so it falls into a 2.75. I adore Kimberley Craft's non-fiction work on Bathory, but this fell short for me. I do hope that one day someone will get this story right, as many have tried but not succeeded. I'd also like to see that bloodlust we all have come to expect from Hungary's infamous lady, Erzsebet Bathory, The Blood Countess.
November 23, 2020
She stands out as the second most famous vampiric historical personage after Vad “the Impaler” Dracula. The real life Elizabeth Bathory was a noble woman of high birth who was married to count Nadasy. The count was one of the brave nobles who defended Hungary from the brutal depravatities of the Ottoman Turks. After he died she inherited everything and she also became obsessed with holding on to her youth. To ensure her youth she resorted to killing young beautiful girls and women and then bathe in their blood. Eventually the bodies piled up and they caught on to her.
This story is speculative fiction, the authoress, Kimberly Kraft has written two other books on Elizabeth Bathory. She has the knowledge to pull it. What follows is years after she died her son searches out a servant who worked with the family for years to discern if the rumors were true or not. Benedict Deseo is a perfect source of information. Both Elizabeth and herself were infatuated with one another when she first arrived at the estate. What could have boiled up into an intense love affair is put to an abrupt stop but Benedict’s father . The affair would have been a disaster. Their love thwarted Benedict observes the day to day events from the side line. He relates the story of Elizabeth’s first transgression that would have aborted the marriage but there was too much money involved to break the engagement. Then there is the husbands cruel and degrading treatment of her. The husband beat servants mercilessly. Elizabeth might have picked that up from him. Then an older woman is hired as a servant and she teaches Elizabeth the art of besting servants. Benedict was forced into watching. It is her way of getting even for him standing her up when she first got there. She did not know his father beat him half to death for liking her.
The book was face paced and a very enjoyable read, I read it in one day and plan on getting the rest of Kimberly Craft’s books on Elizabeth Bathory.
This story is speculative fiction, the authoress, Kimberly Kraft has written two other books on Elizabeth Bathory. She has the knowledge to pull it. What follows is years after she died her son searches out a servant who worked with the family for years to discern if the rumors were true or not. Benedict Deseo is a perfect source of information. Both Elizabeth and herself were infatuated with one another when she first arrived at the estate. What could have boiled up into an intense love affair is put to an abrupt stop but Benedict’s father . The affair would have been a disaster. Their love thwarted Benedict observes the day to day events from the side line. He relates the story of Elizabeth’s first transgression that would have aborted the marriage but there was too much money involved to break the engagement. Then there is the husbands cruel and degrading treatment of her. The husband beat servants mercilessly. Elizabeth might have picked that up from him. Then an older woman is hired as a servant and she teaches Elizabeth the art of besting servants. Benedict was forced into watching. It is her way of getting even for him standing her up when she first got there. She did not know his father beat him half to death for liking her.
The book was face paced and a very enjoyable read, I read it in one day and plan on getting the rest of Kimberly Craft’s books on Elizabeth Bathory.
November 23, 2020
She stands out as the second most famous vampiric historical personage after Vad “the Impaler” Dracula. The real life Elizabeth Bathory was a noble woman of high birth who was married to count Nadasy. The count was one of the brave nobles who defended Hungary from the brutal depravatities of the Ottoman Turks. After he died she inherited everything and she also became obsessed with holding on to her youth. To ensure her youth she resorted to killing young beautiful girls and women and then bathe in their blood. Eventually the bodies piled up and they caught on to her.
This story is speculative fiction, the authoress, Kimberly Kraft has written two other books on Elizabeth Bathory. She has the knowledge to pull it. What follows is years after she died her son searches out a servant who worked with the family for years to discern if the rumors were true or not. Benedict Deseo is a perfect source of information. Both Elizabeth and herself were infatuated with one another when she first arrived at the estate. What could have boiled up into an intense love affair is put to an abrupt stop but Benedict’s father . The affair would have been a disaster. Their love thwarted Benedict observes the day to day events from the side line. He relates the story of Elizabeth’s first transgression that would have aborted the marriage but there was too much money involved to break the engagement. Then there is the husbands cruel and degrading treatment of her. The husband beat servants mercilessly. Elizabeth might have picked that up from him. Then an older woman is hired as a servant and she teaches Elizabeth the art of besting servants. Benedict was forced into watching. It is her way of getting even for him standing her up when she first got there. She did not know his father beat him half to death for liking her.
The book was face paced and a very enjoyable read, I read it in one day and plan on getting the rest of Kimberly Craft’s books on Elizabeth Bathory.
This story is speculative fiction, the authoress, Kimberly Kraft has written two other books on Elizabeth Bathory. She has the knowledge to pull it. What follows is years after she died her son searches out a servant who worked with the family for years to discern if the rumors were true or not. Benedict Deseo is a perfect source of information. Both Elizabeth and herself were infatuated with one another when she first arrived at the estate. What could have boiled up into an intense love affair is put to an abrupt stop but Benedict’s father . The affair would have been a disaster. Their love thwarted Benedict observes the day to day events from the side line. He relates the story of Elizabeth’s first transgression that would have aborted the marriage but there was too much money involved to break the engagement. Then there is the husbands cruel and degrading treatment of her. The husband beat servants mercilessly. Elizabeth might have picked that up from him. Then an older woman is hired as a servant and she teaches Elizabeth the art of besting servants. Benedict was forced into watching. It is her way of getting even for him standing her up when she first got there. She did not know his father beat him half to death for liking her.
The book was face paced and a very enjoyable read, I read it in one day and plan on getting the rest of Kimberly Craft’s books on Elizabeth Bathory.
November 22, 2022
This book was...meh. It only took about two hours to read but it wasn't great. (I'm a completist so I did finish it.) The story was told from a different perspective than most books about Countess Bathory, so that was interesting, but it was just an ok story. I have another book by this author that I'll eventually get around to so I can see if it's the author's writing style I don't like or if her storytelling just isn't that great.
March 27, 2023
I liked this book. The author spent an equal amount of time going over Bathory's crimes as she did the narrator's undying love for this wicked and wounded woman. Craft successfully made Bathory into an actual person, not some mythical mass murderer from the past. I originally was looking for gore and violence with the search for the notorious Bathory, however I ended up getting something I didn't know I even wanted with this novel. Cheers!
April 26, 2014
Stunned.
Stunned.
I don't know what came over me as I read this book. Simply put, this book frightened me. I've been having the most horrific nightmares for the last couple nights. Countess Bathory and her husband were both extremely cruel and sadistic people. This book was my first foray into the life of Elizabeth Bathory. I've always been interested in this woman because of all the alleged evil deeds attributed to her. This book is 155 pages of seriously depraved and stomach turning acts of the torture and abuse of hundreds of young servant girls at the hands of the Countess and a few hand picked cronies. The ONLY other book that scared me as much was "The Shining", by Steven King. I had to read "The Shining" sitting in our living room, in full day light, with my parents in the room. I was 14 years old at the time. I'm 49 now, lol! That's how much Kimberly Craft's book creeped me out! But, honestly, I also went through a period of around five years in my mid to late teens of only reading true crime, serial killer books. So I do not have a weak stomach when it comes to reading scary books. In fact, I love a good scary read, be it non fiction or fiction. I love being scared, but I'm a bit strange. For me, this book is a 5 star story. It's everything I love in a good scary book! I say read it. It's a quick and super shocking book. Well, I'm off to delve deeper into Countess Bathory's life. Happy reading!!
Stunned.
I don't know what came over me as I read this book. Simply put, this book frightened me. I've been having the most horrific nightmares for the last couple nights. Countess Bathory and her husband were both extremely cruel and sadistic people. This book was my first foray into the life of Elizabeth Bathory. I've always been interested in this woman because of all the alleged evil deeds attributed to her. This book is 155 pages of seriously depraved and stomach turning acts of the torture and abuse of hundreds of young servant girls at the hands of the Countess and a few hand picked cronies. The ONLY other book that scared me as much was "The Shining", by Steven King. I had to read "The Shining" sitting in our living room, in full day light, with my parents in the room. I was 14 years old at the time. I'm 49 now, lol! That's how much Kimberly Craft's book creeped me out! But, honestly, I also went through a period of around five years in my mid to late teens of only reading true crime, serial killer books. So I do not have a weak stomach when it comes to reading scary books. In fact, I love a good scary read, be it non fiction or fiction. I love being scared, but I'm a bit strange. For me, this book is a 5 star story. It's everything I love in a good scary book! I say read it. It's a quick and super shocking book. Well, I'm off to delve deeper into Countess Bathory's life. Happy reading!!
April 23, 2012
Dark, disturbing, fascinating. This book is an intriguing fictional addition to the two non-fiction books on Bathory that this author has written. Craft states in the foreword that a fictional account allows her to take certain liberties and advance various theories on what went on behind closed doors with this sadistic woman yet lack a documented paper trail. The story flows effortlessly, drawing the reader back in time through the recollection of a close servant who witnessed one horrific deed after another, committed by a woman whom he still loved throughout, despite the madness.
This is not a typical romance. While it is a short read (novella), it is intense. The vignettes of Bathory's sadism, as well as the bizarre customs of the time, are disturbing. Also disturbing is the mistreatment of servants during this time period (late 1500s, early 1600s), who were little more than property, even if high ranking. Mistreatment took many forms, too: physical, psychological, and even sexual.
The book makes the most sense if you read "Infamous Lady" and "The Private Letters" also by the same author. I'd recommend reading the non-fiction works first, and the indulging a bit with this fictional book. Out of context, or without an awareness of exactly who Bathory was and what she did, this book might not make a lot of sense.
This is not a typical romance. While it is a short read (novella), it is intense. The vignettes of Bathory's sadism, as well as the bizarre customs of the time, are disturbing. Also disturbing is the mistreatment of servants during this time period (late 1500s, early 1600s), who were little more than property, even if high ranking. Mistreatment took many forms, too: physical, psychological, and even sexual.
The book makes the most sense if you read "Infamous Lady" and "The Private Letters" also by the same author. I'd recommend reading the non-fiction works first, and the indulging a bit with this fictional book. Out of context, or without an awareness of exactly who Bathory was and what she did, this book might not make a lot of sense.
October 14, 2014
3.5 stars.
This is a short novella about the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, written by the same author of the excellent biography Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory. The story is told by Benedict Deseo, who was court master to the Countess and likely witness to many of her crimes.
Ms. Craft is not afraid to show gruesome, chilling scenes: there are plenty in here, and the book is definitely not for the overly squeamish. However, I appreciated that the she was brave enough to include those scenes: some authors who write about the Blood Countess tend to overly justify her or skip over her worst actions. Craft includes plenty of those, and yet her Elizabeth is still a tragic figure. Her actions, her madness and the causes behind them are plausible; and even if she is truly scary and wicked for most of the book, her life was so unfortunate that I could not help but feel sorry for her.
The structure and editing are not perfect; there was some confusion with the point of views, and with the use of italics. The book is also really short and so it is not perfectly developed, and some parts feel skimmed over. However, it remains a solid, enjoyable read. Definitely recommended if you are interested in Elizabeth Bathory.
This is a short novella about the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory, written by the same author of the excellent biography Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory. The story is told by Benedict Deseo, who was court master to the Countess and likely witness to many of her crimes.
Ms. Craft is not afraid to show gruesome, chilling scenes: there are plenty in here, and the book is definitely not for the overly squeamish. However, I appreciated that the she was brave enough to include those scenes: some authors who write about the Blood Countess tend to overly justify her or skip over her worst actions. Craft includes plenty of those, and yet her Elizabeth is still a tragic figure. Her actions, her madness and the causes behind them are plausible; and even if she is truly scary and wicked for most of the book, her life was so unfortunate that I could not help but feel sorry for her.
The structure and editing are not perfect; there was some confusion with the point of views, and with the use of italics. The book is also really short and so it is not perfectly developed, and some parts feel skimmed over. However, it remains a solid, enjoyable read. Definitely recommended if you are interested in Elizabeth Bathory.
March 17, 2016
3.5 stars to be exact. It is hard for me to find a decent book, especially a fictional re-telling, on Elizabeth Bathory, and this one, while it kept me reading and entertained, was not as detailed or as well-written as I thought it would be. I was hoping for more of an in-depth exploration of the Countess's psychological and emotional frame of mind when it came to the murders and her reasons behind them, but this book only subtly as well as briefly brushed on those aspects, which left me somewhat disappointed. A lot of the stories and history I already knew, so I was looking for a fresh take behind the Countess's actions, and while I appreciate what the author was trying to do, I still think she could have expanded and gone deeper. I will probably read her other works, which are supposed to be more geared toward the non-fiction genre, with a lot of documentation concerning her trail, her imprisonment, etc.
February 16, 2015
This is sadistic porn, right up there with the writings of the Marquis de Sade. It's so graphic as to exceed believability and enters into the realm of camp. I thought I was going to read a historical fiction novel but I ended up feeling like an unwilling participant in the author's voyeuristic fetish. Kind of like I was duped into reading it and she was standing behind me, titillated into a frenzy, getting herself off on my horrified reaction.
I felt like she used Elizabeth Bathory as a vehicle to express her own sadistic sexual interests. I bailed out halfway through. I can handle demented material, but just give me the facts. I'm not into fantasy...especially when it involves cudgels, knives, trauma, copious blood loss and strangulation.
I felt like she used Elizabeth Bathory as a vehicle to express her own sadistic sexual interests. I bailed out halfway through. I can handle demented material, but just give me the facts. I'm not into fantasy...especially when it involves cudgels, knives, trauma, copious blood loss and strangulation.
April 28, 2012
Wicked and delicious. And sad in parts, too, that two people who were so close could still be so divided socially. It's number two on the "EroticWhispers" list, so don't read this if you're looking for light romance!!!! All you haters out there, ("Not my cup of tea," "scarring," "blech,") READ THE REVIEWS FIRST.
November 6, 2016
Kimberly Craft is actually known for her research into Bathory's original letters and other related manuscripts. This seems to be her first foray into "fiction," and while it fell a bit short, writing a novel that incorporated the actual facts of Bathory's life (the "what") and attempted to explain them (the very unknown "why") was truly a challenge to overtake, and worth the read.
April 13, 2012
So, this is probably more like a 3.5. What I liked about this book is that it inspired me to learn more about this woman and why she went so freaking crazy. So, it may not be the best book but it did make me think and I love that. P.S. It is pretty graphic in it's descriptions so be warned.
May 29, 2012
Shocking. Well told story of history's most infamous female serial killer. Not for the faint of heart. Lovers of chic lit and romance BEWARE. This is NOT for you. Step away now. Do not look in dark places. For the rest of you, a fun romp.
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