Tony Thorne (1) (1950–)

A really impeccably researched work, involving translations of many Hungarian documents from the early 1600s, and a delve into the complex politics of Hungary.
This is NOT a blood and guts vampire story. Certainly Bathory's alleged crimes make for grim reading- but Thorne goes on to consider other reasons for her arraignment.
Firstly, she was an incredibly wealthy widow- her estates could be confiscated if she were guilty- to the enrichment of her rivals.
Secondly there were political issues- Bathory's nephew, whom she supported, was ruling an independent Trasylvania, to the disgruntlement of the Hapsburg overlords.
And as outrageous calumnies usefully despatched Anne Boleyn (and indeed other Hungarian noblewomen- a near relative by marriage was accused of something similar.) ...and the many witchcraft trials of that time of any "strong, independent" women...Thorne argues it was a way to "neutralize" them.
Certainly the court hearings (at which the accused never appeared) seem to have glaring discrepancies...and some confessions appear to be the fervid declamations of persons being put to torture...
Nonetheless, can we dismiss all the allegations? Aristocrats were - frequently- cruel to their servants, and deaths only "counted" if the victim was of noble blood. "Home doctoring" might account for some of the events witnessed.
The reader is left with no concrete answer....… (meer)

I listened to this in the car and it was perfect in that environment. It contains a sample of 100 words that, the author proposes, in some way define the English. For each word he provides a short narrative, lasting from a few minutes to 10 to 15 . This can include the derivation of the word, how it presents in other languages, how it is used and how that usage has evolved. It is quite fun hearing some words and they strike a chord. Some I was less convinced by, I'm not a "yoof" and I don't speak the youth dialect, meaning that some of these words I had never come across. It doesn't take itself too seriously and is not snobby about the words chosen.… (meer)