Customer Reviews

The Blood Countess, Erzebet Bathory of Hungary (1560-1614: A Gothic Horror Poem of Violence and Rage ; With, Bathory, a Play for Single Performer

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Although this is not the last word in modern drama, the play included in this book is quite interesting. I am a theatre director interested in Grand Guignol Dramas and, even though I did not LOVE the play, it is most certainly a great excercise for actors, as well as for directors, since the play presents a very intriguing character. It is a ruthless character, yet the audience must love her dearly. It's a very fine line to work there, therefore a great challenge. It's strange, the poems and specially the play affected me in a peculiar way: I was not cray about the text, but it was intriguing and challenging. I guess the best way to know it is to stage it and see what comes out. For theatre lovers it is a very peculair reading. Join the Blood Countess crusade if you dare!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much this book draws the reader in. The author has obviously done a tremendous amount of research in the era, and creates a chilling tale of murder and sexuality. A great historical fiction in the Gothic tradition.