The blood countess : murder, betrayal, and the making of a monster / Shelley Puhak.
There have long been whispers, coming from the castle, from the village square and from the dark woods. The great lady--a countess, from one of Europe's oldest families--is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess's downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness--a world where nothing is ever as it seems.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781639732159
- ISBN: 1639732152
- Physical Description: 293 pages, 8 unnumbered page of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 24 cm
- Publisher: New York : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2026.
- Copyright: ©2026
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-272) and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Dramatis personae -- Prologue -- Part one: 1603-1609. A long, terrible year -- The first clue -- A wedding and a rebellion -- The curious case of Miss Modl -- See you in court -- The dose makes the poison -- Part two: 1610-1614. Strained relations -- The preacher of Čachtice -- The mysterious will -- The raid -- The servants' trial -- Her day in court -- The last Bathory -- Epilogue.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Báthory, Erzsébet, 1560-1614.
Women murderers > Hungary > Biography.
Women torturers > Hungary > Biography.
Women serial murderers > Hungary > Biography.
Herbalists > Hungary > Biography.
Malicious accusation > Hungary > History > 16th century.
Misogyny > Hungary > History > 16th century.
Hoaxes > Hungary > History > 16th century.
Countesses > Hungary > History > 16th century > Biography. - Genre:
- Biographies.
True crime stories.
Available copies
- 34 of 50 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 2 current holds with 50 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Library | 364.152 PUH (Text) | 37810460002859 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Albemarle Main Library | B Bathory (Text) | 31010000916868 | Adult New Biography | Checked out | 08/12/2026 |
| Black Mountain Library | 364.15232 PUH (Text) | 0020514055456 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Braswell Memorial Main Library | 364.15232 Puh (Text) | 37807000075712 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Canton Library | 364.152 Puhak (Text) | 33115007737566 | Adult New Nonfiction | Checked out | 08/12/2026 |
| Columbus Library | 364.152 PUH (Text) | 31250200095967 | Adult New Nonfiction | Checked out | 08/07/2026 |
| Dorothy Wightman Library | ANF 364.152 PUH 0326 (Text) | 30372102171177 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| East Regional Library | B BATHORY (Text) | 31781070116023 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Eden Library | 364.152 P (Text) | 31554012265855 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Fairview Library | 364.15232 PUH (Text) | 0020514107141 | Adult New Nonfiction | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
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| 245 | 1 | 4. | ‡aThe blood countess : ‡bmurder, betrayal, and the making of a monster / ‡cShelley Puhak. |
| 264 | 1. | ‡aNew York : ‡bBloomsbury Publishing, ‡c2026. | |
| 264 | 4. | ‡c©2026 | |
| 300 | . | ‡a293 pages, 8 unnumbered page of plates : ‡billustrations (some color), maps ; ‡c24 cm | |
| 336 | . | ‡acartographic image ‡bcri ‡2rdacontent | |
| 336 | . | ‡astill image ‡bsti ‡2rdacontent | |
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| 337 | . | ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia | |
| 338 | . | ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier | |
| 504 | . | ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 213-272) and index. | |
| 505 | 0 | . | ‡aDramatis personae -- Prologue -- Part one: 1603-1609. A long, terrible year -- The first clue -- A wedding and a rebellion -- The curious case of Miss Modl -- See you in court -- The dose makes the poison -- Part two: 1610-1614. Strained relations -- The preacher of Čachtice -- The mysterious will -- The raid -- The servants' trial -- Her day in court -- The last Bathory -- Epilogue. |
| 520 | . | ‡aThere have long been whispers, coming from the castle, from the village square and from the dark woods. The great lady--a countess, from one of Europe's oldest families--is a vicious killer. Some even say she bathes in the blood of her victims. But despite claims that Elizabeth Bathory tortured and killed as many as 650 girls, some have wondered if the Countess was herself a victim of one of the most successful disinformation campaigns known to history. So, was Elizabeth Bathory a monster, a victim, or a bit of both? With the breathlessness of a whodunit, drawing upon new archival evidence and questioning old assumptions, Shelley Puhak traces the Countess's downfall, bringing to life an assertive woman leader in a world sliding into anti-scientific, reactionary darkness--a world where nothing is ever as it seems. | |
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| 650 | 0. | ‡aWomen murderers ‡zHungary ‡vBiography. | |
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| 650 | 0. | ‡aMalicious accusation ‡zHungary ‡xHistory ‡y16th century. | |
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