Blood Countess Hb - Hardcover

Andrei Codrescu

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0704371243 ISBN 13: 9780704371248

Publisher: Quartet Books Ltd, 2008

Synopsis

Andrei Codrescu, NPR commentator and journalist,  has written a fascinating first novel based on the  life of his real-life ancestor, Elizabeth Bathory,  the legendary Blood Countess. Codrescu expertly  weaves together two stories in this neo-gothic  work: that of the 16th-century Hungarian Countess  Elizabeth Bathory, a beautiful and terrifying woman  who bathes in the blood of virgin girls; and of her  distant descendent, a contemporary journalist who  must return to his native Hungary and come to  terms with his bloody and disturbing  past.

Drake Bathory-Kereshtur, a Hungarian-born  journalist who has lived in the United States,  returns to his native Hungary, only to be the target for  recruitment among a patriotic group that wants to  restore the glory--and the horror--of the  Hungarian aristocracy. As a descendent of the Countess  Elizabeth Bathory, he is heir to all that is  wonderful and terrible about his country and his family's  past. Codrescu brilliantly explores Drake's  anguish, as he realizes the truth behind his gruesome  family history. But more importantly, Codrescu  also creates a convincing and historically accurate  picture of a sadistic woman obsessed with youth,  vigor, beauty, and blood_a woman with enough power  to order the deaths of 650 virgins so that she  could bathe in their blood.  

The Blood Countess is a bizarre and  compelling book about the horrors of the past, shown  so effectively in the monstrous yet attractive  personality of Elizabeth, and what pull these horrors  have on those who live  now.

About this title

Review:

A folk belief that on bitter cold nights the stars come down to mate with wolves. An adolescent boy, sexually aroused by an "iron maiden" torture device. The smell of paprika and boiled chicken served with Tokay wine. These and other vivid images of Hungary in the 16th century, and Hungary today, swirl together amid scenes of luxury and barbarity and talk of Martin Luther's Christianity and post-Communist ideals in this gloriously gruesome novel inspired by the life of Countess Elizabeth Bathory. They say she killed 650 virgin girls in order to rejuvenate herself with their blood.

From the Publisher:

The National Bestseller

"As compellingly readable as it is thoughtfully intelligent...The Blood Countess is that rarest of things, a new American novel of serious literary merit that is actually about something."--San Jos Mercury News

"A brilliant work that reveals much about power and politics and obsession." --St. Petersburg Times

"The Blood Countess is a wonderful and accurate re-creation of history by a very knowledgeable author. A page turner!" --William S. Burroughs

"The Blood Countess will frost your plasma, curdle your goulash, and stir your nightmares with a golden shiv." --Tom Robbins

About this edition

• Publisher: Quartet Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0704371243
• ISBN 13: 9780704371248
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 358