The Blood Countess

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Andrei Codrescu, NPR commentator and journalist, presents a captivating first novel inspired by his ancestor, Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous Blood Countess. This neo-gothic narrative intertwines two tales: the 16th-century Countess, a beautiful yet terrifying figure who allegedly bathed in the blood of virgin girls, and her descendant, a contemporary journalist grappling with his family's dark legacy. Drake Bathory-Kereshtur, a Hungarian-born journalist raised in the U.S., returns to Hungary and finds himself targeted by a patriotic group seeking to revive the glory—and horrors—of the aristocracy. As a descendant of Bathory, he inherits both the splendor and the monstrosity of his heritage. Codrescu delves into Drake's turmoil as he uncovers the gruesome truths of his lineage. The narrative also vividly portrays the sadistic Bathory, obsessed with youth and beauty, who purportedly ordered the deaths of 650 virgins for her macabre rituals. This compelling work explores the haunting shadows of history, embodied in the complex character of Elizabeth, and examines the enduring impact of such horrors on contemporary lives.