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Vain, sadistic
and possibly insane,
Countess Erzsabet
Bathory was a living
nightmare to her
many innocent victims
who were frozen
alive encased in
ice or bled to death
in the most vicious
ways imaginable.
As a historical
figure, Bathory
is certqinly one
of the most contemptable,
yet as an icon of
evil and lurid violence,
she is unquestionably
hypnotic in her
bloody and perversely
sexual appeal.
There are many testaments
to her legend in
contemporary culture.
No doubt the one
that combines acclaimed
literary skill with
a morbid fascination
for Bathory's misdeeds
is 'The Blood Countess,'
a novel by Andrei
Codrescu (the editor
of The Exquisite
Corpse.)
McFarlane's brilliant
sculptors have created
a beautifully bloody
toy figure depicting
the Countess in
her crimson bath.
On film, we recommend
the Hammer Studios'
historical version
of Bathory's life
in Transylvania,
'Countess Dracula.'
For pure fantasy,
check out the modern-day
what-if tale 'Eternal.'
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