Undying Love: The True Story Of A Passion That Defied Death (St. Martin's True Crime Library) [Mass Market Paperback]

Ben Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Series: St. Martin's True Crime Library | Publication Date: February 15, 2001

The power of obsessive love seems to know no bounds-- yet one man took his unrequited passion to a grotesque new level that will shock even the most hardened readers. Undying Love is that story-- read on if you dare...

Carl von Cosel was a German immigrant who worked as a technician in a Key West tubercular ward. When a beautiful young woman, Elena Milagro Hoyos, was brought in with an advanced case of tuberculosis, von Cosel-- a self-named count-- was determined to cure her with his own unconventional methods. But Elena eventually succumbed to the fatal disease, and the Count was heartbroken, for despite her rebuffs, he had fallen madly in love with the fetching Latina.

For two years, von Cosel worshipped her grave-- until he could stand it no longer. One moonless night, he exhumed Elena's decomposing body and took it home with him. Through an elaborate embalming process, von Cosel managed to preserve the corpse from further decay and even garishly dressed it up to become his eternal bride. In their macabre marriage bed, von Cosel made love to his mummified wife-- and kept her shriveled corpse for eight years...until his twisted crime was discovered!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The world's most bizarre love story."--National Examiner

About the Author

Ben Harrison is a well-known Key West playwright, singer and songwriter. He and his wife, Helen, own and operate Harrison Gallery in Key West. Leading up to the book, Ben first wrote a song then a musical about this darkly humorous affair. Visit harrison-gallery.com. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's True Crime (February 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312978022
• ISBN-13: 978-0312978020
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,295,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An oh-so twisted love stroy, February 13, 2001

By 

Amy Wallace "Buttonsamy" (Bolinas, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Undying Love: The True Story Of A Passion That Defied Death (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

I saw an episode of a TV show called Haunted History. One of the stories was about this woman named Elena who dies, and a doctor who is obsessed with her ends up stealing her body from the cemetary, rebuilds the skin using wax, and kept the body for 7 years without being discovered. I was shocked to learn that was a true story. I could not beleive that someone could be that insane.

After getting the book about this story and reading it, I realized there was much more than meets the eye. (After reading the book, you will know what I mean) This book covers every detail, with pictures of almost everything. A haunting TRUE story that will keep you shivering. I enjoyed reading about this mans obsession with a dead woman. If you enjoy horror stories and sick twisted romances, then this is the book for you. I thought the book was easy to follow and enjoyable.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing yet intriguing true story about obsessive love, February 11, 2002

By 

Nicole B. Eyman (Germantown, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Undying Love: The True Story Of A Passion That Defied Death (St. Martin's True Crime Library) (Mass Market Paperback)

While the story was good, I didn't care for the manner in which it was written, particulary when you reach the court stage where information is taken directly from complete articles of the time and you find yourself reading the same stuff you already knew over and over again. The author provides good detail but holds you till the end to get ALL the facts. I highly recommend this book just because the story seems so unbelievable.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pyschotic or true love?, January 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Undying Love (Hardcover)

You may begin this book with a preconceived notion, but after reading it, you will probably change your mind! I first heard this story on TV and automatically thought "the Count" was one unstable man. However, the story intrigued me, and I stumbled across this book after some seaching on Amazon. I read the customer reviews and couldn't resist buying it so I could see for myself what made other readers sympathic to the "Count's" actions. Well, my perspective changed after reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks there's only one side to every story. Decide for yourself!