News & Reviews
Since its publication in October 2009, readers have been bestowing five star reviews upon our book!
Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory
Read the latest review by Dread Central's Elaine Lamkin!
Read the review by the acclaimed Dennis Bathory-Kitsz at Bathory.org!
The following are actual reviews from our readers:
Amazon.com Customer Reviews
I couldn't put this book down ..,
February 4, 2010By Loran Scollo 
I have been searching for an up-to-date and accurate book on Erzsebet Bathory for many years now. Up until then, I devoured everything I could possibly find on her on the Internet. Finally I discovered 'Infamous Lady' on Amazon.com and purchased it instantly. This book answered a lot of my questions and boy, did I think I knew Erzsebet Bathory just from reading a few Internet snippets! It turns out that upon reading this book, I actually knew very little. How she lived her life, what aspects of her were myths/legends and what was actually true, what made her do what she did, etc.
Intriguing, frightening and exciting all in one, I finished reading this book within two days as I just could not put it down. 'Infamous Lady' definitely has my recommendation to anybody who has an interest in Erzsebet Bathory or even those who just want to read an amazing true crime story that took part centuries ago.See this review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N09O65DN2O19/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
January 7, 2010
Great Book!!
By
K. Wiscombe
(Canada) - See all my reviews
I enjoyed reading this one, I am a bit of a history buff and have read several books on Erzsébet Báthory. This book sticks as closely as it can to the facts, as researched by the author who translated many original court documents and correspondence from the time to clarify the story as best she could. It has a detailed transcription of the court documents, and correspondence, names of people involved, victims, etc... listed in the appendix. If you are interested in the true history of Erzsébet Báthory, backed up with translations of what original documentation remains of this woman, then this is the book for you!
See this review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3FC64DX838TD1/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
Scholarly and Well Presented -- I couldn't put it down, December 21, 2009
By
Jeffrey R. Elver "jeff82"
(Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin USA) - See all my reviews
There are few works translated into English on Erzsebet Bathory. Those that are available usually fail to differentiate the opinions of the author from the known facts of the case. Moreover, it's hard to improve upon what is known, since limited source material is available to the researcher.
Ms. Kraft has really done a service to those interested in the study of Erzsebet Bathory by rigorously researching the subject and publishing the translated documents as well as other summary information as part of her book. In this way, the reader can evaluate the available information and form his or her own conclusions.
Moreover, she has put together a very interesting story, in which she clearly presents the facts, explains the significance of the available evidence and presents her conclusions as such. I really appreciate the scholarly rigor with which she has presented this material.
She makes it an interesting tale too. For me she brought to life the personality of the Countess, as well as that of the other principals in the story.
She even addressed the existence of the Countess' lost diaries.
Anyone interested in the story of Erzsebet Bathory should really start with this book.See this review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2CRL10UFL4Y5C/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Finally... Real Facts and They're All Here!, November 11, 2009
By
As an avid Bathory "fan" and a member of the academic community, I've always kept any eye out for real historical information about the Countess but sadly such treasures have been few and far in between. My grandmother was Hungarian and I spoke the language with her; she would tell me stories about the Countess and other vampire legends. I was intrigued by the story of Elizabeth Bathory and studied her since I was a child.
I've read everything out there and most of it was fragmented and speculative at best or just simply bad fiction and lore. It's not that I don't appreciate the legends about the Lady, but I've been looking for a book that actually puts some substance behind the myth. This book does that and more! Finally, we have a book that has opened a window into what Elizabeth Bathory's world was really like. It's amazing! There are REAL letters and REAL testimony actually translated into English from the original Hungarian and Latin languages for the first time! This treatise is well written and researched, and I can honestly say that there is NOTHING ELSE like this book out there!
If you are a fan of the Countess, enjoy history and an enthralling criminal case, then you will enjoy this fascinating biography immensely. It puts the pieces of a centuries old puzzle together thoroughly and keeps you engaged from the first page all the way to the last. I can't wait until the next edition, or for further supplementation from this author. This book is a valuable resource for both enthusiasts and academic experts alike.See this review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1XXRSOXS1OZND/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
Fantastic!, November 16, 2009
By
Zengini (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
Finally, a thoroughly researched and accurate account in English! This book both intrigued and frightened me at the same time. Whether you're curious about the life of this controversial historical figure, a die-hard academic enthusiast, or a legal scholar, this book has something for you.
Thank you, Kim, for creating such an exciting read!See this review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1A96PG5GLF0K1/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
Goodreads.com Review
Jan 13, 2010
Liz Carrington rated it:
Read in January, 2010
This book is a must read for anyone who is an avid enthusiast of the countess, history and criminal investigations. It is well written, compelling and a significant contribution to the scholarly community. Ms. Craft goes beyond the fragmented story that has been pieced together over the years and presents new information including family history and actual correspondence written by the Countess and those close to her, translated into English for the first time. It brings a new side of the Countess to life and leaves you thinking that she is much more than just the sadistic monster that folklore has made her out to be. It is truly a remarkable text which is perhaps the most in-depth treatise about Elizabeth Bathory available. It is also an amazing bargain as it is half the price of other publications.
See this review on Goodreads: