The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory

by Kimberly L. Craft

In this book, readers are given a rare glimpse into the life of Hungary's most controversial noblewoman, Countess Erzsébet (Elizabeth) Báthory. Over 40 letters and documents, many of which have been recently discovered and translated, are presented here for the first time in English. Read the private letters Lady Báthory sent in secret to fellow nobility, learn how she administered her estates, and experience life as she knew it. Historical background is provided as well as biographical material. This book is an excellent resource for the Báthory scholar and enthusiast who is looking for new and factual information on the so-called Infamous lady.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography, Biography Memoir, Vampires, European History

142 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2011

About the author

Kimberly L. Craft holds bachelor and master's degrees as well as a juris (law) doctorate. She also received a Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache from the Goethe Institut in Munich. Prof. Craft has served on various faculties, including DePaul University and Florida A&M College of Law. An attorney and legal historian, Prof. Craft has spent over a decade researching the life and trial of Countess Báthory and over a year translating original source material into English.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this First Reads book in 2 sittings. It was very interesting to read about a noble woman in a way that is so much more authentic and genuine to the life she lived as opposed to some of the more romanticized accounts presented in many novels. Getting a view in to what it took to run estates from day to day and the spirit Bathory possessed was really refreshing. Whatever truth there might be to the stories about her penchant for torture she was an interesting woman who worked tiresly to take care of her family, her homes, and to survive a very tumultuous time in history.

There is lots of great research presented by Craft in this book. It was such a real read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in this time in history, in the lives of strong, able women or who wants a more honest look into the daily life of nobility that does not include all of the fluff of romantic encounters and cross stitching by the fire to pass their time.

The author signed my copy and included a nice letter. I cannot wait to pick up her other book about Bathory!

[Orsolya · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may be unfamiliar with the name Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory but you have certainly heard of the ‘Bloody Countess’: the Hungarian noblewoman whom allegedly tortured and slaughtered hundreds of female household servants and proceeded to drink their blood as a fountain of youth, of sorts. Much of this sensationalism was told hundreds of years following her death and is simply a work of fiction. Regardless, a trial conviction and subsequent house arrest sentence concluded Countess Bathory’s life.

These dramatics aside, Bathory was a ‘typical’ noblewoman of sixteenth-century Hungary living a life filled with the logistical running of manors, the financial sales of dry goods and crops, political interactions, and social calendar scheduling. The insight into Countess Bathory’s private life can be grasped by looking at her private letters and correspondence. Kimberley L. Craft, the author of a biography concerning Bathory, collects the Countess’s letters in, “The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory”.

“The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory” features 40 letters written by Bathory, some of which are translated into the English language for the first time. Craft doesn’t simply end here, but also provides context of the historical and political happenings of the period surrounding the letters while also intricately using sleuth skills to analyze the letters’ contents and recipients. The text begins with an introduction into the letters, translations, and a brief background look at Countess Bathory providing a suitable entrance into the actual letters.

Craft excels at providing an ample amount of academic material introducing the reader to Bathory but keeps the reading ‘light’ as a supplementary piece. Each letter is surrounded with context material explanations and makes sense with its chronological but subject- presentation. A vivid insight into Bathory’s life is revealed and readers are offered an illustrative macro view of events.

Those readers seeking information regarding the supposed blood-drinking streak side of Bathory will be disappointed with “The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory” as Craft briefly touches upon these matters but focuses solely on the daily life of the woman, herself. This provides a well-rounded portrayal of Bathory and “The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory” is the perfect resource for additional material on the subject or to aid in the creation of a historical-fictional production.

“The Private Letters of Erzsebet Bathory” is a true supplementary text, however, it is also a firm stand-alone piece perfect for history lovers who blissfully enjoy historical documents. As a plus, readers also become educated on Hungarian history and governmental meanderings.

Craft concludes “ The Private Letters of Erzsebet Bathory” with a translation of Bathory’s will in-full, two letters written by her husband, and a list of bibliographical and source material.

“The Private Letters of Erzsebet Bathory” is a quick (1-2-day max) read, providing an excellent insight on the subject. Whether read alone or along with Craft’s biography; Countess Bathory comes to life in an unbiased way that isn’t focused on her reputation as a murderess. “The Private Letters of Erzsebet Bathory” is suggested for those interested in Hungarian history, noblewomen, and/or bloody legends.

[Sean O'Hara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might better be called "The Receipts and Official Correspondence of Elizabeth Bathory." There are certainly some nuggets of historical interest here, but if you're hoping for insight in Countess Bathory's personality, you'll be disappointed -- the few personal touches are formulaic except for one or two occasions when she's angry at someone for not doing what she told them (the most interesting point of the book being a letter chastising someone for stealing her marijuana, though unfortunately it's unclear whether she means a personal supply or just some grown on her estate for sale elsewhere). There are two letters -- the only surviving correspondence -- by her husband included as an appendix, but even these few pages give us a better sense of his character than the dozen or so pieces written by his wife do of her.

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly insightful and very haunting in the way the Countess was so human despite her monstrosity.

CW: numerous mentions of torture & murder, death, grief

[Gottfried Reuter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent sequel to "Infamous Lady" by the same author. Attorney Craft has returned to the Hungarian National Archives to find 40 more letters written by the so-called Blood Countess, Elizabeth (Erzsbet) Bathory. These letters are newly translated and, according to the author, presented for the first time in English. The letters are an assortment of administrative memos to servants and private letters written to fellow nobles. These letters show a personal side of this controversial woman said to have murdered hundreds of her servants. She was never allowed to testify on her own behalf, her conviction meant that the Crown would not have to repay its enormous debt to her, and of those who did testify, most never actually saw her do anything. When one reads her actual writings, it is hard to see her as a mass murderer or psychotic as portrayed historically: she tends to her estates, cares for an elderly lady victimized by thugs, helps a woman get her imprisoned husband back from Turkish enemies, and worries when her lands are invaded. After reading about the stress she went through and yet seeing how well she handled it, it really makes one wonder. In any case, great pain was taken to translate these letters so that they make sense to us today, and helpful historical background and explanations are given throughout. It's a short read: I finished in a few hours, but the reference and research included will be referred to long after. Also a good book for people interested in life in the Early Modern Period.

[Queralt✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this was disappointing mainly because I picked it up for the wrong reasons. My favorite movie is Stay Alive and it’s about Elisabeth Bathory. Welp, someone should’ve told me that the whole thing about torturing young servant girls and taking blood baths was just a rumor (maybe Wikipedia itself if I had properly googled it).

I was in Hungary this past month, so it was still an interesting read because this book really woke me up at how little I know about their squabbles with Turkey and Germany. And just anything Hungarian, really. Kimberly L. Craft does an incredible job at chewing all the information and undertones in Bathory’s letters, and she’s so engaging too. Chef’s kiss.

Now, if you want to read this, be advised this is just a bunch of letters about how Bathory dealt with castle matters (threatening to let a servant go for not bringing fish last Friday, for example) and money matters with ‘the big guys’ such as paying taxes/rent. There was a controversy against Bathory and then when the rumors about her torturing servants came about and she was imprisoned, during this time there were quite a few letters where someone occupy’s one of her castles, she is refused when trying to take a ferry, and things like this. She writes to people about it. It’s quite interesting. Though, again, no blood baths.

All the stuff about the torture and blood baths rumors is published in a different book that I shall read eventually: Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory.

I will just leave my quotes here:
- Bathory writes at the end of a letter: “I will not allow myself to be dominated by men for long.”
- Then, Craft adds an explanation somewhere saying: “... typical of a stressful social event, servants claimed that her attendants were brutally tortured during the trip, this time with molten iron.”

[Krysten]

I've been interested in Elizabeth for a few years now, so I'm very excited to read this.

[Heather]

Just starting-so excited for this one!

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erzsébet (Elizabeth) Báthory was a medieval Hungarian countess, best known for bathing in blood to keep herself young. While it's a myth that she bathed in blood, there was a trial in which she was said to have tortured and killed several servant girls. The trial itself, however, was rather irregular, so whether Elizabeth Bathory was indeed guilty or not is still an open question.

The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory by Kimberly L. Craft is a supplement to the author's book Infamous Lady. It provides a look at the infamous countess's day to day life. Although she was the wealthiest person in Hungary at the time, she had constant money problems due to the fact she had no liquid assets. It was a time when everyone had money troubles due to massive inflation as well as expensive wars and rebellions to deal with.

The Royal Treasury owed Countess Bathory money, but claimed not to have the money even though they did. They even bought one of her properties and made her keep paying taxes even though they were the ones who owed money to her. She was accused of not being as strapped for cash as she claimed to be because she owned two greyhounds. She defends this by insisting that she only bought herself one and the other was a present. We learn in another letter that she couldn't afford to travel with an armed force.

Since her husband was often away at war, she ran pretty much everything. In letters to her provisor, she starts out being polite to him when she was in her early twenties, but becomes more critical of him by the time she reaches her late twenties. He was apparently the type of guy who didn't reply to letters or follow instructions. One letter deals with the matter of some missing cannabis.

She dealt with administrative duties such as prisoner exchanges, making repairs after war, elections of local officials, appointment of church officers, and tending to business. In one letter, she demands the men who robbed from an old woman and raped her daughter be punished. After being widowed, Bathory felt overwhelmed and often wrote to a family friend for advice. When the army asked her to sell wheat to them at a significant loss, she refused. When other people took over her land, she wrote threatening letters to get them to back down. She certainly wasn't afraid to stand up for herself.

It was interesting to learn that gold and silver thread (skeins) which were used as embroidery on fine clothes, was also used as currency since it contained gold and silver. Interestingly, silver was actually worth twice as much as gold during this time since it was difficult to mine during the war.

Hapsburg troops looted and burned Countess Bathory's villages, causing more damage than the Turks they were supposed to be protecting her from. During the Counter Reformation, Catholics persecuted Protestants like Bathory all over central Europe. During the Bocskai rebellion, many of her people were killed. A few estates didn't have enough people left to maintain or defend the property. The letters indicate that Bathory remained loyal to the king, although she may have made a deal with Bocskai to lessen the damage to her property.

While Countess Bathory expresses anger in some of her letters, there's no proof in any of them that she was a murderer. In her commentary, Craft assumes that Bathory was guilty based on the testimony at trial. I don't think she mentions in this book that most of the witnesses at trial were either reporting hearsay or were tortured to confess, making their testimonies somewhat dubious.

We may never know for sure if Countess Bathory was a serial killer or not, but these letters, many of them published in English for the first time, give us great insight into her life and times. I learned a lot of interesting things and would recommend this book to anyone interested in Elizabeth Bathory.

[April Marie Alexander-Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and Informative

See a side of Elizabeth, the Countess of Bathory that doesn't seem to reflect history's reflection of what we've been taught. This book shows an intelligent and "sane" woman dealing with everyday life. This IS more of a "companion" sort of reading material (meaning you should know something about her background/history before delving here). I found this informative and I learned several pieces of information that I wasn't aware of. ...however...I love history!!! I CAN'T RESIST OLD THINGS..LOL!!! I even enjoyed attempting to decipher the letters in Hungarian. Good read and made me want to find more factual reading on this subject.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Different Side

A very good account of Bathory through personal letters and other correspondence. Craft helps paint a picture of the courses that few have ever seen before. Extremely captivating tale and recommend for most history fanatics.

[MsDarvy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a short read— it only took me a few days to read from start to finish. It was certainly informative, but not for the reasons I expected or sought to learn more about. Unfortunately, Countess Báthory does not make any reference to rumours or allegations surrounding her torturous activities and the murder of young girls in any of her private letters— at least not in any surviving letters, and none throughout this book. Instead, her letters give the reader curious insight into how very adept she was at managing her and her husband’s estates. Her life as a countess, mother, wife, and noblewoman compelled her to be a solicitor of sorts, a meticulous administrator who understood a great deal about the law and how to balance a budget. Life as a noblewoman was, surprisingly, not as domestic or uninvolved as you may believe before reading this. Rather, the level of intellect, prudence, and involvement required of many noblewomen of that time would have been far more intense, especially as the position often required the management of several households, properties, staff, villages, and even armies. You get a clear sense that her marriage would have functioned more like a business partnership, especially since her husband was often away at court or war, leaving her in charge of his affairs for most of their marriage. To this effect, the book serves as sort of a study into the historical, social, and political context she was living in: a period characterized by severe economic instability and restraint, coupled with the risk of politically mis-aligning herself and her family while trying to secure and preserve their lands and entitlements, all the while facing a very real threat of war and destruction at her literal doorstep.

But for all the responsibility and modesty that Báthory put forth to her affiliates in her role as noblewoman, she was also, clearly, an extremely demented person. She tortured and murdered hundreds of servant girls in brutal, barbaric fashion. Some of her victims were noble-ladies themselves. But nearly every letter she wrote (from what’s included in this book) is painted thick with the language of niceties, noble addresses, and prayers for the recipient’s good fortune. I suddenly realized about halfway through that the author’s goal was not to contextualize or balance the context of her letters’ with ongoing or concurrent evidence/rumours/allegations/psychological rationale of her crimes. In fact, very little reference is made to her crimes at all, expect to note that more girls seemed to die during periods of increased stress.

It’s very difficult to paint a picture of who Báthory truly was, her psyche, how she really felt, her habits, or what her personality was like beyond the qualities of a logical solicitor. I was very disappointed when, at the end of the book, the author chose to exclude a letter in which Báthory’s tone of voice and lack of patience clearly underscores the break down of a crucial relationship with a former affiliate at court amidst the growing severity of the rumours, allegations, and legal inquiries into her crimes that she now faced. I don’t understand the author’s reason to explain the letter’s contents and implications rather than include the letter itself, especially because I assume it would give the reader a more honest look into her rationale just as her evils were being discovered.

[Liz Carrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I finished reading the author's first book,Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, I was eagerly anticipating her next one. I would have simply been appeased with any sort of additional information or supplementation about Countess Elizabeth Bathory, but this book totally exceeded my expectations! It is a historically rich and compelling work that gives readers a look inside the "everyday" life, and possible state-of-mind, of one of history's most legendary and enigmatic women. Through careful research and painstaking translation of actual letters written by the Countess herself, Prof. Craft has shed new light on the circumstances and political intrigues which surrounded Bathory during the time frame in which she had allegedly committed some of history's most heinous crimes, pegging her as one of the "world's worst serial killers". This book reveals a very different side of the Countess; it is not that of an insane, blood-lusty, murderess, but rather, it is that of a strong noblewoman with oppressing odds working against her as she desperately tries to maintain order of her estates and protection of her villages in a time of political and papal chaos; it is the side of a widow and a mother, who is tired and, at times seemingly defeated, reaching out for help and guidance. This companion to "Infamous Lady" is an excellent "mini" biography of Countess Bathory. It is well written and easy to understand, enjoyable for both the history novice and advanced enthusiast alike, a must-have for history buffs and those interested in the life of Countess Bathory as well as those interested in forensic psychology and the criminal mind.

[Christopher Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always glad when Kimberly Craft writes a book about Erzsebet Bathory, because you know you're going to get a real, historical treatment and not another fictional account. This book is another home run for Bathory scholars everywhere, including over 40 letters published for the first time in English. I really enjoyed reading the real words of the lady herself and not the fabrications of a writer. Craft lays out the history well, explaining nuances of the 16th century in a way that today's readers can understand. I thought I might be a little bored by the details about the Ottoman Turks, the Long War, and the Bocskai Rebellion but, in the end, found it interesting and extremely helpful in understanding the context of the letters. I really felt for Countess Bathory. I really felt like she was a victim of circumstance and just doing her best to stay on top of things. it's funny how different her actual words are compared to the way she's been portrayed all these years. A must-read for someone with a real and serious interest in her.

[Katie_kemmelmacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good supplement to the author's first work on Erzsebet Bathory, "Infamous Lady." Very well written. Although the historical background is complex, the author does a good job of explaining the events and relating them to the letters written by this mysterious Hungarian countess. What I found so fascinating, and also alarming, was how this woman sounded so completely "normal" in all of her letters--even religious and pious--and yet could be accused of such atrocities in private. While she was writing to a friend for money to cover the cost of roof repairs on a shared home, she was murdering girls in the same house such that the local clergy threw pots at the walls in anguish. I suppose a forensic psychologist would have a field day with this wealth of newly translated material on this infamous serial killer. Nevertheless, it was also an enjoyable read.

[Melanie Coombes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very detailed, informative book on private letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory. I did not read the author's first book. This is a follow up to the Infamous Lady. Sadly, my library does not have a copy of that book, so definitely excited to have won a copy of this one.
Even if you never read The Infamous Lady, the author included a short biography of a few pages before staring the book.
It was pretty amazing to be reading translated letters from the early 1600s. Fascinating stuff! The author had really done her research.
I do think I definitely would have enjoyed this book even more if I had known or read a bit more on the Countess, but it was a great introduction for me. Thank you for this goodreads win.

[Magis Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I am always looking for new information on Elizabeth Bathory, and this book had dozens of new letters I've never seen. They paint a fascinating picture of the trials and tribulations this woman went through. Her homes and castles were stolen, her people killed, farms burned, land invaded, all the while dealing with the treacherous politics of king, emperor, Turks, revolutionaries and even relatives. The translations are done well and really capture the feel of the period and the voice of this noblewoman. I really felt like I was back in the 1600s. Really interesting look in time, with lots of new information on what life was like then.

[Christina Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner for historical scholarship. For the person who thinks he or she knows everything about Lady Bathory, I guarantee that you will not have seen these letters before or realized what all was happening to the "Blood Countess," Erzsebet Bathory, during her tumultuous life: wars, intrigue, hyperinflation, and just petty gossip and politics. She speaks from the heart in her letters to fellow nobility, families and servants, and one can hardly believe that this is the same woman accused of murdering hundreds of servant girls. I stand by the theory that she was framed, especially after reading this.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it. A fascinating collection of the letters of one of history's most infamous women. Whether you think she did it not, they provide a great insight into the world in which she inhabited. The author narrates pretty well the circumstances that occasion the later, and tries to extrapolate hints about the countess's personality from these circumstances which she does mostly pretty well.

Some of the letters are very administrative and quotidian, so it's probably difficult to infer too much. But if this is a topic that interests you, you'll probably love it regardless.

[Ashley Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful followup to Infamous Lady! I cannot say how wonderful Kim is! She did a beautiful job on both books and put a lot of work into them. I envy her for the research and the documents she was able to find and have access to! I cannot praise her enough! I would recommend these books to anyone! Wonderfully done! She should be proud! I'm very proud of her! And I am glad I found her!

[Arthur Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb research by the author of "Infamous lady." Reading Countess Bathory's actual letters was both eye-opening and surprising, first, because she did so much to care for her property and problems, and second, because nothing hints at the murderous pathology for which she would blamed for centuries to come. Cover up? Conspiracy? This book certainly begs the question.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into the life of Elizabeth Bathory's day to day dealings. Very much enjoyed reading her letters, due to the stories that surround her it was almost strange to read her writing of wheat prices & chasing justice for crimes committed against her people. Definitely humanized her for me.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that has many private letters from the Infamous Lady to a number of people. It shows a totally different side of Elizabeth. However some of it is rather dull, managing household affairs and that sort of thing. The author is brilliant though and has done the research and really tried to give as many details as she could find.

[Elizabeth Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

very educational, interesting, however extremely wordy. These letters however are translated to English so something occasionally gets lost in translation but the author does a very good job with the translation. I will be reading the book that comes before this one, its not a series I just happened to read this one first.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

More useful to a scholar with some solid background in the historical context of these letters. Not good for beginners who don't have enough reference points. The letters tend to be very brief and often say very little - a strange change of pace after reading the letters between John and Abigail Adams.

[Lucinda Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually research for a writing project...

[Kristina Franken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone

FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.

[River · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Kindle edition is not formatted well, so you may want to buy the actual book. I think anyone interested in Erzebet Bathory would find this book interesting.