I, Hannibal Lecter, was born in Lithuania on January 20, 1933 to a wealthy aristocratic family; my father, Count Lecter, was a descendant of the warlord "Hannibal the Grim" (1365-1428) who defeated the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Grunwald, in 1410, while my mother, Madame Simonetta Sforza, descended from both the Visconti and Sforza families who separately ruled Milan for a total of 250 years. I am the eighth in my blood-line to bear my ancestor's forename.
When I was six years old, I was introduced to my sister, Mischa, who was born in 1939. We formed a strong, affectionate bond. When I was nine, my family left our estate to live in a lodge in the forest in order to escape Hitler's Blitzkrieg. Three years later, my parents, tutor, and family retainers died in the crossfire between a German bomber and Soviet tank. The lodge was invaded by a group of former Lithuanian collaborators turned looters. Mischa and I along other local children were rounded up by the looters to be used as food during the cold Baltic winter. Mischa was cannibalized, but I escaped; I was severely traumatized by my sister's death, however, and was rendered mute.
Mischa's death haunts me for the rest of my life; It destroyed my faith in God, and since I believe that there was no real justice in this world.
I was taken to France by my uncle, Robert. I formed a close relationship to my aunt, the Lady Murasaki, with whom I instantly fell in love. I was educated at home on my uncle's estate on the banks of the Essonne; my uncle encouraged me to take-up painting while my aunt taught me aspects of Japanese culture. Still mute and disturbed by my sister's death, I saw the psychiatrist, Doctor Rufin. At age 13, I attacked a local butcher, Paul Momund, in retaliation for an obscene insult to my aunt.
I have killed at least nine people becoming known in the Baltimore and Chesapeake area as "The Chesapeake Ripper". Only three of my victims survived, William Graham, my captor, and Mason Verger.
I was captured March 1975 by FBI Special Investigator Will Graham. The courts found me insane. Thus, I was spared prison and sent to the Chesapeake State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, under administrator Frederick Chilton.
There William Graham found me years later seeking guidance on what was known as the "Tooth Fairy" case.
Five years later, an FBI trainee, Clarice Starling, was sent to me to administer a psychological questionnaire. Starling, initially assuming the assignment was related to her studies, ended up getting me to help the FBI in the Buffalo Bill case.
My relationship with Starling was part antagonism and part seduction. Starling allowed me into her mind in return for leads and information on Buffalo Bill, which I found fascinating. Nevertheless, I was not amused when Starling provided possibly the best psychoanalysis of me, observing:
"You see a lot, Dr. Lecter. I won’t deny anything you’ve said. But here’s the question you’re answering for me right now, whether you mean to or not: Are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? It’s hard to face. I’ve found that out in the last few minutes. How about it? Look at yourself and write down the truth. What more fit or complex subject could you find? Or maybe you’re afraid of yourself."
