Description: Andrei Codrescu, NPR commentator and journalist,has written a fascinating first novel based on thelife of his real-life ancestor, Elizabeth Bathory,the legendary Blood Countess. Codrescu expertlyweaves together two stories in this neo-gothicwork: that of the 16th-century Hungarian CountessElizabeth Bathory, a beautiful and terrifying womanwho bathes in the blood of virgin girls; and of herdistant descendent, a contemporary journalist whomust return to his native Hungary and come toterms with his bloody and disturbingpast. Drake Bathory-Kereshtur, a Hungarian-bornjournalist who has lived in the United States,returns to his native Hungary, only to be the target forrecruitment among a patriotic group that wants torestore the glory--and the horror--of theHungarian aristocracy. As a descendent of the CountessElizabeth Bathory, he is heir to all that iswonderful and terrible about his country and his family'spast. Codrescu brilliantly explores Drake'sanguish, as he realizes the truth behind his gruesomefamily history. But more importantly, Codrescualso creates a convincing and historically accuratepicture of a sadistic woman obsessed with youth,vigor, beauty, and blood_a woman with enough powerto order the deaths of 650 virgins so that shecould bathe in their blood. The Blood Countess is a bizarre andcompelling book about the horrors of the past, shownso effectively in the monstrous yet attractivepersonality of Elizabeth, and what pull these horrorshave on those who livenow.

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