The Bloody Countess: The Atrocities of Erzsebet Bathory

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Summary: Writing Style Indicative of Author's Heritage
Review: To understand the book and many of the reviews here, one has to consider the author. Valentine Penrose was active in the Surrealist art movement and published many surrealist poems. Radcliffe and the Marquis de Sade were great influences on her writing. This book is more than a historical tale; her love of gothic prose and words is as much a character in the book as the countess. Penrose's telling of the Bloody Countess's story stands out from those of other historians because Penrose is one of the only writers to tell the story without either an overt or covert Christian interpretation of the events. So, if you want just facts without wading through lots of writing, chose another text. If you are interested in surrealist writing or want a more avant-garde look at the Countess, read Penrose's.