ZSIGJIOXO l [(mCZ

(1819- 1012)

Small nalions till thmiddotr dotLmUy aboll t thclr great ndl They know that the world really hug 110 time 10 d isllOlcr them So wrole th~ esayisl LM16 Xcmrth in an nrtici for ClClDlllIl II Bt the UO1 of M6ri~1 8 doath in WH For R angttril1l1 zigmoml M6ri07_ i ono of tbe outstftndjng uthora of priod rich in Iood writing ~ mnn with profound know I] of his oolwt ry [llJd ita probln bot h polit iCtlI nnd woinL n enlert-cl into n mTUY lit io n llOSlgt JruJin sinl w to ampon ~h~ nation II Ii1HroI Iugu in which il Wit en a tbr dllty of th~ wrlw to crllwi and j-troct TIlthOr tlmn lIlorely to ontertampln H oootiJ1 t1 LIlti lhis tmdition adruimblY writiugfor B ungnTulltl publio on t bcmeti conoemed with Ihe life of tbo oomtry

eo lived through n period of Eoron bigttmy lhnt pror-ided him -iiliabund8llt mukrlnL amp grew up ltiurin the ol)id lllJustriampliza1 ion lid sucldrn growth or Jludp inlo t br Lrosh II met ropolil1 it hut1 IleltlOme io U96 h HUllgRTIIUl Iebmtcd tlJe fingtl thousand yoo of tbeir occnpfltion of tho UaTIube bAsill with great ~roDlODy~ inmiddot clndiIlll tlugt innngumtioD of tbe lirs~ undergro llnd milw in tbe continent of Eurul_ By contra thft mechonizaUo n I funning nd the appalling Orinl conrulinllB prevailing il Lhll oountrysida I~d to the LnG emisralioD uf llgriul tllllll wOrkelS to Ibr U nited StAte illJ dIM 1 rUBh to find work in tho DltlW fctories t hst ringed llle CllpiLol hose Bub tLrbe rap idly eVQlved into 1Ilums Them was con~idC-rn blo nAl(t and Bsucocssion of WBilk gorernment9 did Dothjng to pJ]e~iate the llrublCLIl 011 the 5UNuCC there w~ relal iv

bull 1_6 Nnmath bull MZM9mmultOl LiIlt1Idid middot _In DunWlyM ho41 Budol 1077 Y QI n C O

7

prpell~y nnd 6eltlurity at lMsi fur lh_ iu power whu saw no on to tackle qnertinn that had Jajn 1111801ed or gel1BllliollJ ThAn til wift succession camu tlUl First World WItr the illsinlegmtion of the Austro-lluugorUul Monarchy the abort- lived Hungamprian Republic nnd t lugt CommuniJJL nimo of iltlln Kun nnd finally the lnmty of Trilln which roducetllho tncri10ry f lIUllgory to IllmOti bullt p_t roo Illld deprived her of vital raw malcnI_ Thu fuJlowed lhe Hortlly r6gill1e od lhe cltunour ror -Won of the Triallou frontiers lbe financial otiBes of tbe iJl Lgtr-wlU period ltlud the riae offbullbullciem wbioh led inevitably 1) Ua SNlOnd World Will Rarely 0lJl a profoundly gtiellBishy

liwmiddot and critICal writ h~v had tIJ roud (()ntempolliry IllQterinl I hand It 1116 uubOlved nd v- rome cuto oocioJ p JObloro Lo which 116r1 kept roflirling no bere UI ElIlOpa ~ there 1Ill~b h llge gap betwoon the prii1cgct f11 nnd LIlt doprived 1IIBS8(gtS the ricb ariFlooracy nnd t be poor jXlAIallt (ond laler the urban 8Iumuwellere) and It wa to t be occorato portraya l of tbu society in whioh hi lived thaL he doyoted most of Iilis rli

~16riz Wall bonl U1 TsulL-W ~ mUlI Iblgc ill 1I0rLlshyold Hungary wd place h middotmiddotlls with ~ lfccUon in On 1 Irillrll ~IIJ amp111 Ill T~ lfhtrt I W a OIildmiddot Ki Pllcul iJ hi~ wortle G Ctome from two diffengtnt pol h i~ futJmr llfi 3n ambitious penampll1t n II too rendr to risk his money in ontcrpriaei that ltmUlO to nothing lind hi~ motber cam~ from Ii IODg line c[ CampJinllrt DliIWteramp Hil f lh~re Eido of t he family 8lI on I llP ~- up biJJ lUOtW8 on tbe wny down ~P~l11It i~ IUllili-embmaiug wro ill 1Ig~ry it refers to the agrioult ural popul Uon who bepshypulJld nol In 110 noblIlld thorciorn hod 110 oltoral rightbull Solila hnrI la nd otbera had Done Ill JgtOI8Btid tloolr5 or hdo othen lived d y-Ibourelll ma were mp~mshytively woll-off llllt the OlBjorily of them lived Ul poverty ltw ei irt nal rfdOl)) Th~ M6riCll f mlly bieh eventually iuoluded s ix boys and girl wed botw relativo Ith and hjod povampty lhe utnbitJoml or t be rllther

See p 236

pusbod it up in the world for t be first fow y(= of young Zsigmorul liftgt bot t hen I1pound OTorrconbed himsdf be inshyv-cstedm steun tltrrohing-nulclUnu I hich b~ up been It rouJd bo 13jd far whereupon lho family 5 forced tu aell up ~verytbing o1d dmg out miaembla pgtislen rut 5OIIl~ Y until the fatmrs indnslry put il OD ite rool agnl n lho IlLmosphero of bbiJJ period is weli cou~ht in ]UdiO arul Ellihtr ampnd indcetl Lbo ups ud dowIIB of hi bull OOlly life left lasting impression on M6ricz ]I to ~ unusual autobiog pby 81llJUed TIr NIJlA f Ifl Litbull wbiell COVlII8 on ly th llnlt1 tell yMrn of tlLlI lik

lhls W88teally Lha wholeJ of my ti fA AU Uta modI) DO wha1 T boonm l RPJgtDIlIl during tbiI pariod 1oIongt Oltlcd to roe UfJ to lilt o~ or lJJn f hnn during thl I1Inreding fifty y rlltS -

Tili iR g fJUdonnble cmggemtion bnl thrn Ute book it If is lUI unorthOltox J1lxllrn of mily biJJlory 11 (mililif fulklnrc lid Ivrioo l cVOOlltloll of chilill100ti

ZhlgmIJud rtl~cWd good ed ucntion 88 iudMltl did ~II biJJ brothla lUld eister Hi athar held strong vie on t h subject a nd rven during lh col miJJforbmc3 of the family tb rducation of OUl uhildren WR n~vCl Dtllircteu Zligllmud bright boy and weol fi rot 10 Ih Pretn1lliOllJ Ca lvinist oolugo in Dbn~en ono of I be foremost lltmiddothLltilit in UJ unlry he rovclled in jt despiLe the lliwiliclp of being poor pupil wbo llAtl tltgt etlnl mon~y by tutoring Whllli thd family Dlored to SAroSPlIlIk homa of Qther oquall) fmoue ((ovuut voll be w tmnafenrod tb htl failod to tJeltio do in whnt b~ felf wtl too cloiskn-d an ~tmQlltjlho_ H o finish ed hlo hooling in yrt lllluthlmiddotr clvinil scbool ElL Kj~(ljlllJllllis 011 lbrmiddot fJreIl Plnin wb a matenllli unclu Ill heMimaster lle he ltjU1lt1k1y ovshyered biI pint ond lIlUned ropulamption for scholarship De bd nCOO8l 0 thn stoff hbmry Illld w amiddotble to indlllgo hi 1ssioD for rCtldifljl which led bim to histolY and -philosshy

_pll bull t~ Y Uudapeel 10UO bull OJgt ltit 372

9

Opll) j Jl8 rt ioular Ht al olljoyed -alking thu JIa (middotOUlIlrysjde Rod mCt-ting poople lhig was liO_mcthjnf he IDllll1ttined t hroughout hia lifr t nd helped 10 dQI-elop hia harp eye Ill kn iII not nnly for dicl but Iso for II Iln~cc or expleiliiltUl ami Iba iour that ~ t hrougboul bis Kork

After hoo he nt follo cd bis muthers ldmiddot ire to ot udy lboology IWd w~nt back to Debr-ren D llt ho 800n jl8ve thl I in foou r of Ilia futher 1(COTllmllndnLon to study In Uta 1 ] back nIl UJc Illoney tho born of lawye 1m =8 ~ut uf Uk bull This diJI nnt saWy bin) cit h~r h Lttd Already GlAIiclMllfJ ltcCIJlUl wd lcr and flpoundl mOTlJlg to Bullpetit iu 1000 h lip l~ fot literntttre H i m(lUrnnJ unol bel JlHI hUll to oblo til (l poB1 a clerk Clod indoed cnr011111ged him rOl18ldpro hly in his ~1Torts Tt WO It Itllllily ond di tnA prrlod reJiod brieUy by a return t o 1culcwporarily nt K i)jllZtltUIIs In 1903 he offered bull j aIl I Ilh the IWW Ually -1- IJjti~ (Tbtmiddot XIgtWS) ftJr bjj

hp wlOte obort ropo of cuJtuI nts In the 1)1 01 lJd ruted the oJiJIhNl coIun~ It ge bim lbAopportunity to itr but hI fOllnd II ciifllcuJt

I (il fhl ~1UJH) fAt ilt- cQUtfftilJl~ dod tbl suptrilClpJJty i tf wJlIit 1 WAI writ i~ arul I slnIJJly ct)uld nuil clu~ it I ldl OOlnJraquolIod to write and negleeted my elutU1yen l ur lilia UIlI it wuuldn l work 1 wrow day aud night pooring out wordi- Lul L luKl notbing to write obout1

TIun m Y1BjgttLlbotlr unclo djmiddotd nd he bought 01 to ltruT W life lt10 1l illCt1 Ihnl btl had fome to t he end of higt UTee I hnd 110 qllnJifimtinllll IlJI Wlllr AndQ

uhlnt fulfil his HmbU lO ll lhis romllntio jfturo on lhll pa ri fa younl1llJln In hl~

ytmtios may alJpear iftlRlIlr twarrl~ the cnd ill a cent ury in ~rrucb cleAlie- tlrtists lInte OflCfl made their mlumiddotk Inter in Ufo flS dld T S ~iot Illld HnJph oughnn Willlm Bnt in M6ricz Y(lTIt h t he legno) of l he nineteenth D(llh rr

bull Tanuu KiBa Iwl-t Mtkmiddotie Z 8iVtltOtH J3u~t lD79 jJ

ZElmnnd M6riczbull J dlui JJQVWI (t btle6 ljl6d18 t~IwI In T(lnuiindJllIOk I Builltpaat lOi 8 Hi

In

mi till Bttong pomclIlnrly 111 BI1Jtgry Thllt hd boon a time hell VQ8t bOll~ uclnmbereltJ tIp Olympus in scboo unifo~ llIroughout lbo world Ule poetry r t he ilr 1 half of the century was 11ut1 of cillo1 ynllUJ Almon Igtf hild ptOdigje6middot llS(lI1e wrllol pu1 it- Keats ampIIDney Byron ~nrl Pe16f1 Iuul how n t be y ~od the p8ure [ 0 prod 11 00 8 JJl88torpi(oo MrJy in life wag m tcJlSQ l lod C4 wnlt not alone in bi nse of rail lll() tile nuvelist K lilmAn Mlkszutb (1811-1010) hIId gon U rough 0 IJimiJnr 111lt period IUJd WS cootemlomry the poet Arly ( 1l7i-JII1~) nhltys felt lhnt hp wns old boCOlU8() ~ did 1101 lilOlt II1 C1gt n Ivortb hlT olnnw or lU8e WltH be- Vnl) in hi~ t wenty-ninth refiT

Fort WJllely AI r OVorOllme Itis impul he ded young t cb6r bo luuI metalld marriod her in 19()ii Bugorun noli or J n~ lID called htll bcClUllo thamp mood fm Ovol of W3 folDllle cbaitrII De well Ill Ill i dollliUblmiddot vitia r hl5 work h wos ot happy UItUTiage I hry both ~cliug pfi lities lind Tnnka fountl it iOln-e lngly difficult to ccpI her huoblUltl8 fT(lt]urmt absellce9 ftnd llirtlltiota for whn~ he fuled 00 find in her b BOnaht in moor WOllen f hey Mmuntd together fQr t wenly y~m but tben be commit ted ffuicido 1t iB nQ lturprise tlmt Ulle

orlIDric7s recuMC nt t htmcs i8 dO nflid bet wetn WAU Mid lOU Oteu ~ on h(ltgtr lacko oompmiddothenRion uJd 001 Jf his (~rite chmut~rs k a man j wom down by t o WOlnen QDS who bBppy onel th~ other lJe1lutiCo1 Sometbing of thiB tWlliioll COil be D in h tsl o 1 tKlldd M hP 1awcr oIlv niU OhUT(h F1l D 11lt1 J)f1CWr d GClti M6 rjczs seoond mMriJlII tn IIgt let MarUI Simnnyi 1011 no fnltIIC oaucesaful lid hrak liP Utr leD yby whirh tim~ thr dAughtulll Df Iili 6t marr iage had grown IlP SlU1 ho WR a to] to sha lt0 of L1lJili- rnroily life lktwtocn 1903 ontI 1007 be nI )8$lfoWld c-ongcninJ em ployment n waB engaged to collect fol li ta] and 18ltgt

in tb ltegiOll Il1J knew snd loved bet iII home county This be did sYlMIDntictLi ly nnd tharougWy lnunping froID

bull Oyula myigta p~ (Enalioh edtion~ B u tc Uri3 (i

-S- pp 6) 207 aDd 2 111

11

-i llg~ 10 villoge vlaiUng ilO1llt tlfty IllaccF 10 ill Tbt HectlOu of folklore materiAl iu Ilun~ry had Leru ill prog for over hill[ century but there were still 1Ip8 to flU MozcOer thcru uw wtepoundellt In I~ from tbe mtllimiddot1 llid it Wit in HlOn that ampriltlk IUld KodllJ) proulIUlPd 11ir piollt-er oolkction of B nnguiaJ folkaong selliufl~ )16rl(gt reltalli ttu 1JmegtoDgt which ~nd hi confidence in bia future These IUUl or ivc y~ ~t ill U3vlilling roulld tb_ distriua belUb Illy ullicrsi ty U

11 importaut be found hlt)l6 the material poundOr hI firs uclCoOSful wriLlng Up expvrieDC(d VllJuge tife m he

far tmiddotry from Ihl idylli middottlItl~ of th ninoloonlb-IgtJltury ro llio noraquo1 or the operttta6 then filshionalJlo Mud distant UllOugh poundrom bB own childhood recollreUOllB of TiflZliCSc)(ee wbere ho ~ prot~ct~ lIy tho flllllily

I younij bull 00 J rrlo IOObbly happy UL I wns ahl r u Wi k tJrnUlliJ UlL5 lilawl and shining WfttItl Hut one in~T ltry IbfPn1 to Le BitLiug in d 1r lilLl Pt loulk rt wuttlitnny mnrn~- nnd glootoy OutBid lh~ anaw Rr-rk1-~ Lik~ fairytnlc~ whih~ 1nsidu pooplu lived lilut -PJlfICllobt n airs to~ yowlS girl CEUDG ()-Ut from naxt door and th OJ four or UUJO hegull tl) tHctatlt SOIlgwgt1iII 011 togeibcr 80 hit I CgtQulrl 1111 mautlgn tomu tJ II bullbull All of

J IIUllill1n tho dpnr WIlE flung uprn wd ill niilhal h ymn rtllUJ with ll kuiIro in hit hnnd h ~ do tbmat If

old womon aittincr by Uamp tltovo Rnd 8(rrtlftfued at hi io 11

wild inbumom 8OJP( 111 kill you you old t-t you noli my mQOl(IT 1 disown you you IJjtaL bull FVfltYOOt

f lfn Tht mun loobi Ilt 11)( anti aooJLlbcmiddotJ ur t1u~ pntnct t )r bull lI~r let SO of UI Cdc1 wonum liIud B1ank out of tht~ r rxm- t wU tcmbiy wukrn by (hi MoIRf

T lliB wheu ~Mri lqm til Iorry wall noteh~ itll him wh~rr he ftDL toreeord ~wlmt hc 1InO JII henrd-fl commiddotoraation 011 Ilnc(ltiote 11- rn milT I~J)

UOWO np4nJok BUUoflltI 1000 u bull X~ waitA fn -r-mJillP 1 1l1- t tIl7bull 1M See p 236 tll ~ubull iiS

12

dl~llOt wonl-trYr Il- LLI h j rl ~Hiting ThllA (UJ oJ lli5 hurt (urir-lt io III Ile moll ilion d~lll~e (lvorhmtol ~t Q m ilw8Y junaUoli ttwn In- nndaDolJr i the reAult oflL-tnilJt 10 fUV-l- l mdlpt1 talking jn tbe tUhmy rorrift~e for 16riCl w 1 ItOOI ILtener h~ had lhe Ahility to mnk~ lhN8 talk to him Many phowlJTGphs (If h im how him

1tittinli( with SOlUOO06 wriling tlowu t hr-ir ()JCb in one 0 lu mnny J1htdJooilt npm more extrowe Englisb I1XJtUl II~ uIJl( to mlnd-t hot r mold Bennett Gitting hetid bishyfll t hera bod l1lnl ing t h approoch of deilth 8ltonmiddot h ~oed Itmiddotr in OIyM(Jff Or lru-re ~i Uonald Blytbo lLwnshyln~ to I he vill ~era who ppcer in his I k Jrnficlil

~f6ri wR8 0 hIe tn wi lt tbo oonf[d or hi tnforumnt by hi IIPJlronch lI lkilJg wtS nul only fonmiddoti~ tin hTtt (It inVnlllRbl -1 In Ip~r lir fgtJlf Ilr his s1ult S middotmiddot [t tlQI In )lt 11 ((flllog~ 16) ~ t1 it wnO it puotical pi of dvilt-bullbull C~ult Ulye rd hoI eQml lIOCinlit 1f1lII~ InlOrmiddot lTisilelt bull lorge eotn t to instiguTl t he ren I situ3ion of the fnrm-wolkc(l poundhey made th ft nlibt~kI

arriving jn 8 cUTi0tW ~the~lI p(m thfl labour[5 itumcdjmiddot lit ely cJnssilled UllDl snt ry lI nd DIJIImiddoteTtl thwr IImiddotmiddotJ]middot mtnning 11116rie with t h ieferrnll( L tld lOt~1 lck of fmnkneo pprnpriutfo to t llPir betlerlt 110 thnt they no~or dis(() red tltn tr~t1l Thi reCAlls lru- scenQ in HowI d Spring F~nK 1M SJur wru-ro ln Motf rofuses 10 Ill home in A clniAgo from 0 soojaJi~t mtt lng Moril-z j ln~~eled Oil wa1kinS l tin in h is Inw yeaJS wbt1t he-wiui troubhd Ly brd leg Shortly lgtltlron hi donllj ill H14 ~ hi Lsi l fmmIylgttIni ~llger tn see hnw folk Ji d ill the Srolkd~middot IYgioo to llu- sW1ri~ of hi Imsts h insisted on wal liog or at mtm trIl eJling Uti Id clas or OVett o n t he 1)nck of It 10r1) And 80m of h i experienc moved him wry gllmiddottly indd Shortly rUter be had made bis nome iu 19lfJ wmiddot tlF invit-i to lef_ by I Countcs llcli i who rt~() 11J1 1 ~n Pllllll1ing ditlt-r t hM ld jt~t occurred in EltUte rn II ungnry A b dUttc bad l eltJ) Iwld in II bArn t the

II Oyula lUye p~ oj lM Pt-amplMl Budopeet Ul61 228 GyOrgy BoxiIdY M Oria Zrigmond a IIdvd ~ hl Mork

Zlimtond bS6UtJ-nk ed L KhntDtt BucluuMt ] 979 1 2

f3

-i llg~ 10 villoge vlaiUng ilO1llt tlfty IllaccF 10 ill Tbt HectlOu of folklore materiAl iu Ilun~ry had Leru ill prog for over hill[ century but there were still 1Ip8 to flU MozcOer thcru uw wtepoundellt In I~ from tbe mtllimiddot1 llid it Wit in HlOn that ampriltlk IUld KodllJ) proulIUlPd 11ir piollt-er oolkction of B nnguiaJ folkaong selliufl~ )16rl(gt reltalli ttu 1JmegtoDgt which ~nd hi confidence in bia future These IUUl or ivc y~ ~t ill U3vlilling roulld tb_ distriua belUb Illy ullicrsi ty U

11 importaut be found hlt)l6 the material poundOr hI firs uclCoOSful wriLlng Up expvrieDC(d VllJuge tife m he

far tmiddotry from Ihl idylli middottlItl~ of th ninoloonlb-IgtJltury ro llio noraquo1 or the operttta6 then filshionalJlo Mud distant UllOugh poundrom bB own childhood recollreUOllB of TiflZliCSc)(ee wbere ho ~ prot~ct~ lIy tho flllllily

I younij bull 00 J rrlo IOObbly happy UL I wns ahl r u Wi k tJrnUlliJ UlL5 lilawl and shining WfttItl Hut one in~T ltry IbfPn1 to Le BitLiug in d 1r lilLl Pt loulk rt wuttlitnny mnrn~- nnd glootoy OutBid lh~ anaw Rr-rk1-~ Lik~ fairytnlc~ whih~ 1nsidu pooplu lived lilut -PJlfICllobt n airs to~ yowlS girl CEUDG ()-Ut from naxt door and th OJ four or UUJO hegull tl) tHctatlt SOIlgwgt1iII 011 togeibcr 80 hit I CgtQulrl 1111 mautlgn tomu tJ II bullbull All of

J IIUllill1n tho dpnr WIlE flung uprn wd ill niilhal h ymn rtllUJ with ll kuiIro in hit hnnd h ~ do tbmat If

old womon aittincr by Uamp tltovo Rnd 8(rrtlftfued at hi io 11

wild inbumom 8OJP( 111 kill you you old t-t you noli my mQOl(IT 1 disown you you IJjtaL bull FVfltYOOt

f lfn Tht mun loobi Ilt 11)( anti aooJLlbcmiddotJ ur t1u~ pntnct t )r bull lI~r let SO of UI Cdc1 wonum liIud B1ank out of tht~ r rxm- t wU tcmbiy wukrn by (hi MoIRf

T lliB wheu ~Mri lqm til Iorry wall noteh~ itll him wh~rr he ftDL toreeord ~wlmt hc 1InO JII henrd-fl commiddotoraation 011 Ilnc(ltiote 11- rn milT I~J)

UOWO np4nJok BUUoflltI 1000 u bull X~ waitA fn -r-mJillP 1 1l1- t tIl7bull 1M See p 236 tll ~ubull iiS

12

dl~llOt wonl-trYr Il- LLI h j rl ~Hiting ThllA (UJ oJ lli5 hurt (urir-lt io III Ile moll ilion d~lll~e (lvorhmtol ~t Q m ilw8Y junaUoli ttwn In- nndaDolJr i the reAult oflL-tnilJt 10 fUV-l- l mdlpt1 talking jn tbe tUhmy rorrift~e for 16riCl w 1 ItOOI ILtener h~ had lhe Ahility to mnk~ lhN8 talk to him Many phowlJTGphs (If h im how him

1tittinli( with SOlUOO06 wriling tlowu t hr-ir ()JCb in one 0 lu mnny J1htdJooilt npm more extrowe Englisb I1XJtUl II~ uIJl( to mlnd-t hot r mold Bennett Gitting hetid bishyfll t hera bod l1lnl ing t h approoch of deilth 8ltonmiddot h ~oed Itmiddotr in OIyM(Jff Or lru-re ~i Uonald Blytbo lLwnshyln~ to I he vill ~era who ppcer in his I k Jrnficlil

~f6ri wR8 0 hIe tn wi lt tbo oonf[d or hi tnforumnt by hi IIPJlronch lI lkilJg wtS nul only fonmiddoti~ tin hTtt (It inVnlllRbl -1 In Ip~r lir fgtJlf Ilr his s1ult S middotmiddot [t tlQI In )lt 11 ((flllog~ 16) ~ t1 it wnO it puotical pi of dvilt-bullbull C~ult Ulye rd hoI eQml lIOCinlit 1f1lII~ InlOrmiddot lTisilelt bull lorge eotn t to instiguTl t he ren I situ3ion of the fnrm-wolkc(l poundhey made th ft nlibt~kI

arriving jn 8 cUTi0tW ~the~lI p(m thfl labour[5 itumcdjmiddot lit ely cJnssilled UllDl snt ry lI nd DIJIImiddoteTtl thwr IImiddotmiddotJ]middot mtnning 11116rie with t h ieferrnll( L tld lOt~1 lck of fmnkneo pprnpriutfo to t llPir betlerlt 110 thnt they no~or dis(() red tltn tr~t1l Thi reCAlls lru- scenQ in HowI d Spring F~nK 1M SJur wru-ro ln Motf rofuses 10 Ill home in A clniAgo from 0 soojaJi~t mtt lng Moril-z j ln~~eled Oil wa1kinS l tin in h is Inw yeaJS wbt1t he-wiui troubhd Ly brd leg Shortly lgtltlron hi donllj ill H14 ~ hi Lsi l fmmIylgttIni ~llger tn see hnw folk Ji d ill the Srolkd~middot IYgioo to llu- sW1ri~ of hi Imsts h insisted on wal liog or at mtm trIl eJling Uti Id clas or OVett o n t he 1)nck of It 10r1) And 80m of h i experienc moved him wry gllmiddottly indd Shortly rUter be had made bis nome iu 19lfJ wmiddot tlF invit-i to lef_ by I Countcs llcli i who rt~() 11J1 1 ~n Pllllll1ing ditlt-r t hM ld jt~t occurred in EltUte rn II ungnry A b dUttc bad l eltJ) Iwld in II bArn t the

II Oyula lUye p~ oj lM Pt-amplMl Budopeet Ul61 228 GyOrgy BoxiIdY M Oria Zrigmond a IIdvd ~ hl Mork

Zlimtond bS6UtJ-nk ed L KhntDtt BucluuMt ] 979 1 2

f3

-ilJage of bkorit6 and lhe doors had b001l lo ked to preven t intrud~lS Thu bllMl cought fint and 325 young m en and WOlDen from 11) vi]3gea d ied 111 it t while fJ9 were injured M6rio7 WAft SO cllilceR$ed ~Mt hIgt took down the story in his notebook os it was related then forget ting hia hosUs MId bis ten hun-jed away to writo about i t in oue of 01001 p OWelflil 1OIt bull Thereafter he often tJBeltllhe tbem~ of fiN 8S som ltthing u~ uo ce good and bad ono of hlB wost d Toclire JlOV1 I is entitled A JaJy (Tho Torch 10171 it con(Clll5 a yOllng Cto1vinis1 millis te l who arrives in [Ui

EaE Il n~irian i11go) 111 of 1hoo tQ lmjgtlolte tho lot () hi1I flo ck a ia detenninel to be II lorch Lo light tho wily for 1h~m but amp11 he sucetIa in ooing i8 to h urn ItiJmol r out wampStcfull y UIHlbl(middot to ltl chi aw anyt hing In Lhfl fsee of th e a_pilthy flnd ignOl1lnoo h8 enlXJlwterlt t horQ Jt is iocl derJtnljv n JI lL(t lll~tt rt fl (c t ion oJ M~rJCZ S own tat-c 0

mi nd oi Uta loge of tie Fir World War n dIUllc to fame uidellly ~ the llcull of OUI wo

~to ry irolt luUtieampl a tiimpJe uucmJw)]iltlva t~le of mother and son ho pcod whole aitgtTJlOOII t ryJllg to d itKo~(t-r e(vcn peonies to hny u bar of SOttp rho fSOarch is t urtie into 11 gnmo and wh~n a ll att empts to find tbo fii1 I1ltruy a~ fai led it i breglr who prou it This wo uld huP( rrmdf drnl1lntje ernJ i n lt ooJf but M6ritZ goee 011 ity -n f)U lte ho lQ tlx fJ(i~ is lJTOv(d f r llit ltsE since it is dak nod the re i no oil f ()j the kllp At thh the molber chollaquo-r- wi tb la ughter find the boy has to support hfr as he lt10 1jO hor blood drip on to his hand The story told by th(J hoy is nat autohiographieaJ The e1-uootiOll or po qgtrty is f~ Iftui nly true but Mrs )JoriGZ did not d ill of tlll)etClllos-jQ ill ZsignmlJds boy hood Juditlt rou EJsfhtr J8 writtf-Jn at tbn ~lfUll e timc itJ m uch morf concerned with real elent~ anu ngurlllhows lJ6ricz~s 1oie of n s tLLrt ling cu ding He always possessed n strong senee of drama but in t hese early stories he a lso demonstrated something u ll u~ual in

til Okorit6 ~yugnt Hi Aprll 1910 also in F-I(Jkft arl2ntyt (Tanulmanyok II) B udapESt 1982232-40

H ee p 2gt Ill See p 31

14

Hll ngarilW wr itenlt-an a loiliL) to lrool his de M ldult vho CAll drlil~ tOfh o wn contllusioD8 fJOm lhe ovidence be suppliebull Bil l if tbj1lltginnillljl points to the Icing of y lUlother Eampat Europonn peasant-writer ~t6ri(tL-rs fubaequ eneer beli it

Bnving ncbl(n-cd itl11n rdiatc Jecognitioo witb ~trlE1 P1fniu And t he tolume t hat- ill clUjcd it b~ became b~ rhed in writing He 1rodueed aJlogcth cr 3() Jlo-c1s and uoyelllla amp fi()() ahort s1ltgtriee a few pInys 8 largo Dumber of so-coIled re port AIld lilemry tndies IUld rome poetry

th tgtse I ho nlt)vel novella nd bort tori are the m(l5t 1mportant-nnd 80 orc BODle of his repor ts H bich 9TP liiflicul t to ctiBtlngQ~h from t ile short ~tari Riampp I y~ be discounted despi te lti fond n for the stago

AUt his lite h a struggled to write fo1 th( IIt8ge fnd indeod La TOte a gnuLt d c-al ( roo uaburot via o~ lihrnlti fUtd ndoptttiuus of his navtl tl) rnu1amp 11ramyenl bot be l~lilil nev(X p rod uce dnunll-tic rorm and his warks w Pre nlrrlOBh all unBucc~ful n elkllAn11y livoo huyond tht~ day- o r their hirtllr-writae his biogmphur PpLcr ~~yl ~

As for hipound HteTtl Ty stuclics they toer a wide runge from Greek dram Shnkespooro runl loliere to Dlodnrn aun shygarin_n li tentry problems e nu indicate t he soope of hi reading nnd s_chola rship The report i3 and shorb 5tori(~3 showmiddot bim at hi~ best ond often (ISO bt) sanw materh l There is JittJle diff~ren te in style Ilnd fJ lyric81 llote 13 Ha ule to op pear jra both tDQIcovor t l1 e 01unDo that ~11louJdcrs in ~6ricz can ClU])t with equal do1enoo il l t be m Thu BulZ(fI HO8~ has nluch in CQTmllon with l1hr JJr eurofll1 of S[lrilI tj on Ille HortobofJ]Jn and t he dirednes with which ho rCport~ the election oti Szcgh11om22 is p(LlBllclcd in lIlnny of his atories_

A s urvey of the whole of I6ricz - work rcveafs first that he wrote ~lmost exclusively about contemporary H ungary

u p~ Nagy M oria ZllgmtJfWl Budapest 1975 91 uSee p 156_ uSee p_ 225 uSeo p bS l

15

TrUl nl wrote tl lIlg hinnri~l Trilogy llO TmnsyhRU Jl (1( Ul~2-35) IWnolakillgly nI1hed tha wry dlAiJ tld Ihrurtrtlly c(Jmiddotd nd 1~rhu on Anohltr It SiiuM t07 I owaohhucklb lB Imdit who fOUllhl ill th 1848 lMolution (Rroa S6nor lplll lmja 19t1 And 116IIIJ Brintlnr OttmiddotIUoi fI _mDldOl 1U) 1m the works COllttin more than a hint ur Io ntertlpclnary toCLol ntW unegt ud pIgtI Thi doe 1101 imply t rut he WIUI nint e It iJu world olltRidmiddot Ifllngary-indltod he renltlNl hiaIoolf VY much n child of Ills age in eome of his Lomments on tb Rump he knew Ald 1ItollKh he rot p riulMily for H ungeri it is inloreeHng dIRt he financed tho tl8 11 8Int ion of S0m~ of his w-otk into OtI Jl lun llnd tntid bard 10 interest lI~rtli meri puhlihfrs ill bis tookl-middot

Scolldly It ih -lrr t hlt ilL som ~taKe in his CEtrccj hu t himc1fllmiddot teak ofwriUng nbollt the n-holeof HangRrian ampgtCifl tYAfI h MW i~ XO other writU pve6 iWch A (Omplet picl of it bPtwn 1009 lid HH2 In t be I1min it i ~ somLrc pict UlP b88ed on hiB own o wlrfltiOI1S of lifo in both COllDUY and cit) hut it j ~ ttlmprred nt h lOm p ll$Sion

lor his fell hmn bciugs-nnd nut only the pcnB(ln1 nnd lulIl-hpllrrlt lJnr i the OINlBion1 glint of humolU as 1 0 b c( CD in Brnl11tJ by I Fi nnd tIl Aft~ r his nest succeB8 IIS a ~nort-stomiddot writer Iw prod ured a long novn1 Scirarfutp (P om Gold) originnJJy vrit un jn instlllmenIA in the joumnJ 1I~J1t (West ) was cd exshytCIl J-~ly beforo i t OPlnred in book fonn in laIL It IOnmiddot ctgt1TI ~ t Il fa tl ofnn an1hi1io Ubmiddot ~t who iannot fine rooru for hi 1alt1lt~ to tim1ish be has plans to impron hiS ramlnrd of li illg obtain mol land ~od grow bettl crops but UI i grou nd down oohNn to womC n ~ II fait hful ivifo JulU a n uttrnotiyc miamptreBBJ Bod IS fntstmt ed by t he general immohility 8fD)lDd hlrn All his ~ergY-ftn )Cricz firmly lHtlilt-vcd in the ideo of lrim~al )trengthl-goo~ t o waste and Hnntly he l0 1ilmits murder 11 JR Ul r xtrc lTpound pktuw~

u The 2cll rawlatdl III FJIli Jrll g)d WU pubUshNJ in Ne-w Yo in 1931

t Set-- p USee p 210

16

tho Iguage i delibMIteJy rollI and tJta roti ~Cen r fre o-erplnyed Yet in the inevitah1o compnrison wit Zol and Mnupnm ~16ri cz s()OreH i th hi kllowlod of t1ugt diJferunl caste among peant ampDd t belr _t ions morean-r tb t ragedy ariJeI rrom Do gennine djre f lmproement not from innate rol1~erv(ltis tn 1)1 hntionnl ses Neverlhtle th i illtb killd of I)I I ~hot poil1voly invites Stella ribbons to ItO to work on it_ o fir I Ju dNWnpbve pamp86Dges and lo nV6tsamiddottions tt clWd Dot ~ nut of plaw In Oqld Oomnrl larm 1t is Dot urpriinIt th Frigy Karinthy trlto pnrodi8 oxpotcd thl 1lt00 of UlAn of hi~ oontompomri wrot a moroilc uief fUOd or PJU OIM

M6r[ lDOed Oll to omall-town inty llitis -x nl1I A= Illa mag- (llrhind Oods Hck 19111 which oontam Dot 0 Biogle peuant chamet _ An rldd y 80hoolshyJllA6ter llllUTics II yooug ifa ho tti deepcmtoly to fiJld

1llC pJllre nnd excitement jn the utter dullnt-ii of the lon In hih lh j f1 to live--iidenlulv thlgt ~id u ltlIvirtntnelll from hith fanka hAd come_ Site is trappltltl theft Hnd drhen matl Ly rtE~ttatiful HU(mrl - to rommit uioid by jumpinR out of A luw BuL II lha faik abe menly lands itb a bump ill lb mud n buLand iA Olally unoompbdlng nor emn he undemand by on f bi CClI1ljlOlnio iwer m to get hi non~ righl

fTbullbullI ys -1I1d mo 01llLli1I like ll)ri thrmgb Jv OM hIm oft nuugh tltot my nanlf- i Pil 0I0Il olld thats vwy dilTrent - And At thp bull ud ltIf the Look 1U1 shy

asbamBdly injlitcd by Jlftu BUL Lui oowlrfflScd itltl ~ mere -IS hours bothin bull bull t all 1m choJJIl~d Tlte Torc introdu_ tho oJrgy ro lld al ttu- sarno tim- coutillne the id or t b struggling hrrclreGdy R~gtn in Purr God ]lgti8 them the litt of ~ nn f Id~as whoslt rltfnrming 1lt111 i quenoJurJ by the s pat hy IUOI1tId Wm ltifefl Joulld in tho IJltter nltlvel (Jf Ibo niuetfllDih-tury uthor T jO TolllUi (I1s37-lft02) R writr M6riMl mllrh rvlmired It RpPOOts

111110 Ii t liudoplaquolt1 1012 ~ A iMt Adl4 mOg6U M6ria z~ rcgtyN r Bud~ 1Q70

Ii

aglU ll in T] r nlUT1 lGenUcmen -Having FWl 1[128) whose bero is ~l J)To~reasive 18udow ner a nd nT eCt entric- rt the hel ~ht of buge p~rLY he setS fi n to hi h H to p rodd more Hght for his gllestti nJld theu (t1UUllittl swoido Tho book U -much morl subtJy writUll thnU itf predcC-cstlOJR the aTIuOOot CS which ftV VOOr floqueutly I1lvcsl tho characters of the mllTymakQrs 81ld r ry the plot forwnrd to iu dauna ti l conc1tUion -Morcon lr there if ~ spland id mis ture of guietyanu g loo m mud lknd p arurl ise a nd lbr ~eutly in lhe midst of it 11 a rc not oonrlemned o llt righ by tho Author fUI so me crit ics t ry to mnkt- ou t Eor at 1lfJst un til he Jl t decade of hi tllie Mori ugtUoO that ihe key to tho [utllre prosperity If R lugary hy iu t he hands f the a u tlHn it ies Ilnd tIlt~ gentrr GY011lY Bfubdy srr8blifS th1 point tht h n ampn obJedi ob_ er of tile whole of society Some of hjs [deods

who could not see t he whQl~ o f Zeigmond ) 16ricz but only thu pounditlf t hat pl~J llem could not roo Dcilu thtmeey~ tu t llf (uot t hrrL hn oocaaioniilly e~~l fl goOt oTi-ninn ol -o ffi (i~ 1ltey would lije to have made him belong to f party in ~r(ltutu IUld publij) I rCi~ liliktmiddot Bilt hC did not belong loO any siJ u be bdongcmiddotd to Hungariatlllom as [t wh(to ff

Cfi t iciSl]l of the gcnu-y d OP-R appear -cry forccloJly in the last of rus IlO U)S On the them e of t he strup ~di ng hero lu RakcI)l_l)k t R lation~ ~ 1J32) the l1epobsm rind (Orf(ll)tion of amaHtOl ~oaiety ovonlmiddotbe1m t he lcntral chanoter who is drin~n t o h-tto-mpt su iruic But bern hc is hiJll i~lf ~ we8k and vaoiHnHng tJ0-CBOl l lt1 grey aS his QPpolltn t and reo JIshyt iOe8 who wen e t l~ web of corruption flfOund him I t is il bJcak IJoTOl wi n 1 uo dram nti f fiQ nc]UElon Te do no 0middot611 know ~ hethtpound t h6 helO difs o r 1ot rrru8 to his p roblems

If t il p icture of these novels is soHlbro Blld scriouR~ this is fl xplainfd in ft lett er )lil ricz wrote to his e1u(~t daUlhtcr ViriLg in HI30 HecaHtng his HOTly atte mpts at writjng he

st atea

lt Op cit 125- 6

18

t wrote alUJ wrote 1Jw oaclj uIlDy efforts WHii woampJ than U6 bast r clid not know whAt I ought to dsscnb Htro life and every-olu talked ill_ the lAUDe way in ITungtuiaa how--u it lgtOIiIIliWu ta obampflWtorizl) peoplo lD iJiffurentiat6 Ul-Uffit A tld whflt wns lhttre III u JKlnlOnmiddot 1iltt that W fld

middotorlJJ df8flribing ilotlluul tn hd dt=iKUilJcd 1 H took mo a ~ long titl i~ t to 1~lrn UIU UIOItJ[~gb Jr 11 Ww

vary luLu judc-etl afl([r tlw dgo nr twrJl t~y --eight wl wrJ I r~uJ)2ltl tJlot in reality you Ctln clJ lly d~ribe whdl WWBCH you pnin V but wound you And wJiat i$ ro~D8o1t

Thi~ is tNttinJy bue of many of f he short storiefl like T t fl(INiN tJ4 th u tale af rnnn rhOSt~ na me (John Jjttle in tmfbla t ion) is Ali ~n~i~nificttn t At his life and rmTl otjOOti d enth o r B fJr bnrilnUill ViOl its glciul de p ifJtinll of gTtIed a nd Jllenn ingless brlrtulity in peaampurt Sfl cJJty A_nd ~1it tho e nd ltIf lb_ storie t he i 11 0 suggestio n that AlIythlng CllH or ni H chmge But t ho lettur coliLirntes

And Uun 01 Ull age of r()rt~middot Cight I LJIII1Jt Ul8o it was possiblf tn writ4 8C1InUlifl M (tlie Ol w llII l1u l H iruHvid uol Q(fnir-4ll)lJKtlhing thnL oau jiL dcliIJL t 3~

This IltW ingrt-middotdJent is ~t S(60 in 0 He of h i1J m Oft n nshyuJlua t book bull bull rI boldcg rmlllt (1ho Rupp) iao 1915) ill which n di tampni Jlllntive tells t he story of his haVpy lif e from chl ldh cd t hro ug h Pfl j y nhood hefore tle First -lorld Var to t he present rt i b1lamped on f rCl18(COll nt hut Lhe ilR nd of thbullbull (xpcrlel1 ltled fi ll f hor g uides it (hp t ale is t o ld naturnJly wU h tl gentle h llmour a llu 110 t-rn te of uo mp l illt or bellion All Uugt boro does i to work hard nnd middottry not t o lJl$ko nny enemiCA he ia a 8wior nnd content tvit h hi s lot

1

I stnyed 10 ihi dllagtt 10 l w got flighL- ilctCH m h~Ol J tlUUll I vo broUGht uTIgt Bve (M1Umn~ 10 given a wa y t~O

tVirig ltinioz dpdJOtqhljlll DmhlptJlri 1063 3- bull 0 Seoe P J[t D8ee P 03 h Vmlg l Ila ltx riI

19

aglU ll in T] r nlUT1 lGenUcmen -Having FWl 1[128) whose bero is ~l J)To~reasive 18udow ner a nd nT eCt entric- rt the hel ~ht of buge p~rLY he setS fi n to hi h H to p rodd more Hght for his gllestti nJld theu (t1UUllittl swoido Tho book U -much morl subtJy writUll thnU itf predcC-cstlOJR the aTIuOOot CS which ftV VOOr floqueutly I1lvcsl tho characters of the mllTymakQrs 81ld r ry the plot forwnrd to iu dauna ti l conc1tUion -Morcon lr there if ~ spland id mis ture of guietyanu g loo m mud lknd p arurl ise a nd lbr ~eutly in lhe midst of it 11 a rc not oonrlemned o llt righ by tho Author fUI so me crit ics t ry to mnkt- ou t Eor at 1lfJst un til he Jl t decade of hi tllie Mori ugtUoO that ihe key to tho [utllre prosperity If R lugary hy iu t he hands f the a u tlHn it ies Ilnd tIlt~ gentrr GY011lY Bfubdy srr8blifS th1 point tht h n ampn obJedi ob_ er of tile whole of society Some of hjs [deods

who could not see t he whQl~ o f Zeigmond ) 16ricz but only thu pounditlf t hat pl~J llem could not roo Dcilu thtmeey~ tu t llf (uot t hrrL hn oocaaioniilly e~~l fl goOt oTi-ninn ol -o ffi (i~ 1ltey would lije to have made him belong to f party in ~r(ltutu IUld publij) I rCi~ liliktmiddot Bilt hC did not belong loO any siJ u be bdongcmiddotd to Hungariatlllom as [t wh(to ff

Cfi t iciSl]l of the gcnu-y d OP-R appear -cry forccloJly in the last of rus IlO U)S On the them e of t he strup ~di ng hero lu RakcI)l_l)k t R lation~ ~ 1J32) the l1epobsm rind (Orf(ll)tion of amaHtOl ~oaiety ovonlmiddotbe1m t he lcntral chanoter who is drin~n t o h-tto-mpt su iruic But bern hc is hiJll i~lf ~ we8k and vaoiHnHng tJ0-CBOl l lt1 grey aS his QPpolltn t and reo JIshyt iOe8 who wen e t l~ web of corruption flfOund him I t is il bJcak IJoTOl wi n 1 uo dram nti f fiQ nc]UElon Te do no 0middot611 know ~ hethtpound t h6 helO difs o r 1ot rrru8 to his p roblems

If t il p icture of these novels is soHlbro Blld scriouR~ this is fl xplainfd in ft lett er )lil ricz wrote to his e1u(~t daUlhtcr ViriLg in HI30 HecaHtng his HOTly atte mpts at writjng he

st atea

lt Op cit 125- 6

18

t wrote alUJ wrote 1Jw oaclj uIlDy efforts WHii woampJ than U6 bast r clid not know whAt I ought to dsscnb Htro life and every-olu talked ill_ the lAUDe way in ITungtuiaa how--u it lgtOIiIIliWu ta obampflWtorizl) peoplo lD iJiffurentiat6 Ul-Uffit A tld whflt wns lhttre III u JKlnlOnmiddot 1iltt that W fld

middotorlJJ df8flribing ilotlluul tn hd dt=iKUilJcd 1 H took mo a ~ long titl i~ t to 1~lrn UIU UIOItJ[~gb Jr 11 Ww

vary luLu judc-etl afl([r tlw dgo nr twrJl t~y --eight wl wrJ I r~uJ)2ltl tJlot in reality you Ctln clJ lly d~ribe whdl WWBCH you pnin V but wound you And wJiat i$ ro~D8o1t

Thi~ is tNttinJy bue of many of f he short storiefl like T t fl(INiN tJ4 th u tale af rnnn rhOSt~ na me (John Jjttle in tmfbla t ion) is Ali ~n~i~nificttn t At his life and rmTl otjOOti d enth o r B fJr bnrilnUill ViOl its glciul de p ifJtinll of gTtIed a nd Jllenn ingless brlrtulity in peaampurt Sfl cJJty A_nd ~1it tho e nd ltIf lb_ storie t he i 11 0 suggestio n that AlIythlng CllH or ni H chmge But t ho lettur coliLirntes

And Uun 01 Ull age of r()rt~middot Cight I LJIII1Jt Ul8o it was possiblf tn writ4 8C1InUlifl M (tlie Ol w llII l1u l H iruHvid uol Q(fnir-4ll)lJKtlhing thnL oau jiL dcliIJL t 3~

This IltW ingrt-middotdJent is ~t S(60 in 0 He of h i1J m Oft n nshyuJlua t book bull bull rI boldcg rmlllt (1ho Rupp) iao 1915) ill which n di tampni Jlllntive tells t he story of his haVpy lif e from chl ldh cd t hro ug h Pfl j y nhood hefore tle First -lorld Var to t he present rt i b1lamped on f rCl18(COll nt hut Lhe ilR nd of thbullbull (xpcrlel1 ltled fi ll f hor g uides it (hp t ale is t o ld naturnJly wU h tl gentle h llmour a llu 110 t-rn te of uo mp l illt or bellion All Uugt boro does i to work hard nnd middottry not t o lJl$ko nny enemiCA he ia a 8wior nnd content tvit h hi s lot

1

I stnyed 10 ihi dllagtt 10 l w got flighL- ilctCH m h~Ol J tlUUll I vo broUGht uTIgt Bve (M1Umn~ 10 given a wa y t~O

tVirig ltinioz dpdJOtqhljlll DmhlptJlri 1063 3- bull 0 Seoe P J[t D8ee P 03 h Vmlg l Ila ltx riI

19

oj my daughters On(middot Qfmj 8I)f~ a applftuQtd 10 a 1namp8~ tailor And tho o~IfQ191lR 11 JSltby and gnod childreu 1I

llcre l6os t echniqllP bruI rlter(( inBtd of ldiug lb drr into j d k IId brutnl orld that domAnM refonu h lean middots him to the d ist rbin~ rlAli7alioll tbnt t Pt DPm M lplm i baood on 10 ~ luII mi nimum demal1tlsCOm lifond totll lack ind llnom of th brnSs of modern nhrilinlion Tht Hnppy Mon is Olin of no~el RJld nport T ho nai middotty of middotit enl ID1 cbaIampc~ r Ioal1ll t lutl of Ih~ child-hero of ODO of M6riC1 DlO8t popnllU orlo l~g)6 mlImldlg (Dc ~fl ithft)1 unto Tlot~h 1021 M6w rclu~ wOOn bo writ Q bout child Rod younp dulls h 11 odltlJllt8JJels the Obion of growing 1 and Imiddot u tbBm with yml~lby gellllrmr_olJarshyMlltgtrustit nolaclnleciwith mild of hi~ wl iling R Failmiddot 1 unto TtalA 1Uosrihcd tbe i(jiitudII of Mil hoy wbo lUTinv from ~ 11ltamp0 hm~ t o el1tdy at t hp Calviruampt (cltev a ppn Milti he8 ~ brou~ht liP in 8 Igt in~ hom IllId xolifvtbt lb ut t world ill good Hi faitb i8 lultct11 by bia ~xlmiddotrin in J)(gtbT(l~nl bill nnl Ikmiddotn utiJ hi chnracter is ~treDgthen~ ~lyen br (middotnduJlmiddot~ nft lit IIChool Certeinly thltro i much Iohiltgtgnphi I Olntrj1 hc hot tho book w not in tendd to be Itraightrorn chout tOry_ M6ri~ 8urpriod t th ct lOD of bull p rrbUt- th~t rwmuilly fcad Itwron t ho liflC bol t toI1~middot iled It d EO 011 ilii occiou R~ 11ol rfuchnltl

III Lbo trampgedy of lw ~y~lU8 ~ l1UI tmiddotuMllinly lIl)t 11 AUrtoriQb9 nt naLftiUW1 n ti l l yrruJ tfuworibuS 1U1 UI tlliugtl llliRlifcrud during wW aftur- Ow COUlluUIC At UUllo tim t w Lho +tatim of ft Lrrribl IItonn 1 oIl crir~ ~ kIn1 If noivu nd vwllllb 8ullhring tlnd) uouW only llurnQll

atmt td UtrougL hI mysboos of cluldi mind but UteJ( the w1010 wotld 8QUI(ti~ and w in it Lhf fuu of -cbiW J

II ~ tHgtl4oa bet M6Mc Ztignumd rev8yei1V lhwJlIIll6l lJ7ft 311 t tttur 12 Dttoornbc1l WU) lh Olgraquo K~ n6o Maglt quuHH

IT I(middotT Napy op cil 13

~()

M60 Iik1gt lIUUIy of hill contemporaries hnd t writmiddot oul of WID8(lf the emoions llJOuged by tbe ontaclyamio events of lIltll nd their eJtermoth Hut he oontinlled the story of hiB young bero in two otber hoob K OI7IQJIol

(T~nager I lZS)nd Forr w r (Win In Fermfn1 LIl3 L) though nrmiddotithcr of thCllO cht1 lb lInudd OJ popularity of Be PIilliful 1Inl J)wiA Tho litt ) hoy in IM R dellllUlltmts 80111ethlng of M6ri~$ ligJtlneeil of w ut h wb wlliug bout oltildroo bot wbcna they ill viotims a cnlclty bIs Roger ia lpcrmost 1O in hulle OrplU)n _4 nnit_31

It WIllO in BlUlap t15t that M6riaz bogau to s t udy YOtJDg folk The I d and Sid in AlIIJlt oj [ lIe frOOltF a pormiddot tmyerl with sympathy nnd lJndCltlttnding both tho girl nd ber fat Iu have nll en in common with t h8 hero of TAt 11ltpp Jla making tho most of lifo and bulpitlg neighbouro in t ho shanty-Iown thet djd indoed (lXi on tho SQuth side of P est aith with her eady tongue nnd ob ious delight in cheUng the trun-compIillY is an 6)[shy

plpound of utb n youth nrounl~gtd Inter in tbu orp ha n heroine rr Oilirk fwd LDdgtr bull lh~ alee arc based on tho 5to of 8 tum girl who entertained ~16ri with her (l pparent najety Ilud fertile lDlag inlttJon and mt~ duood rum to a new seotion of society He eventual ly Bdnpled her 8Oweogthat to his family 8 oonstern1llkgtn a nd be took bis name

lbe blW1Cd d itbction bet-oon report nd ptory eVinced in many of hia shorter pjeces He wrote ou an aspeats of contemporory Hungatia n life and one of tho most p eS8ing IJlOWows of t he inler-war period (13 the Bingle-child fa mily whlob is t ho background t o n Plock ond i15 Slttphcrdmiddot It 0 8 not P()V(rty aon~ ttm on llampell parents to ruve j us t o ne child but t he law of i nheritance

Boo p- 210 middotmiddotSoa p 219 J1 Seep 12~

Ia Sea p IS ~

R Baa p 199 ft Boa p 88

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acrordi llg to chich i nhcrit~d l ild w dJvldld cqwilly amOJlg a Ueoonsed pupnt childmiddotIl So If tho inot child

hoy i t w~ common pnrti(uhlrly in r mtcstant OODl shymliHuies to b8~f no mom chjid ren ttiJlii oouJd be married into otber families In M6ricz story- tho mjJlist~rt hkl~ tbe tenltbmmiddot 111 T lte ScJwAilu has no ~er to Ib- argushyment udnced by men middot00 klmiddot Ulore of life than he dJ Nor docs t hauthor middot ali i doe t o PO~u t he p roblom fflld lhmv how a usurd itl is to e~ct IltCtlJl tancO of a pArtJ shyular solll tio n howfcr ltJ tionnl it may appear The same

ki nd of Ilit l UI b on OtlCUnI II) 771f 8laquo111rll(14 Pillhu 8J Shi rt t~ f ht~ t here is no mlXting of cnlturr-s nh Morit7 p uts H rued i) scwncc 61ld folk Ilief oimply cOlIido Ilnd t hp jct im dleamp

Wbt IliIriw how~ thUgno1( his worllt is IMt tbe lowcampt stJalA oJ ~oc iety AJB not to bo f(lla rd(d (6 stupid Tby han brains f(1 u~ t hem thongh their 1000ir (MY appear ~t range to the cdncated So the old pcnlIt H PM Stholurahip already uplcious of tbe yunng t ncbr -bell he nrriv(S at he scbool simply regard hi prltopooal lIS U

t rick t o tnke nw ywlUlt iF ltis bJ right ffr l cau~rn I hut hi gtll1l~n i Ihn brittht h tp of tho school d d-Strves a gootI edncation ~ be is l1l(rlly a unit of )uoour aruI ut must I replaced it he goeo oy be u cher lfUflol ndcrald hlB Ililitllde like t be ptll IODlZing MenUshynllTI in ft- l 7lcomlgtrlthillltQ wb offer oI hell I dIgtCisivrjy rejed or the k indly Fittt at In old pie home in Crllt~IJl Einl All h~m brkvlIllit they ore duil1amp goud 0 [hOM Ire fortunat thlln t hnwiIe)-bullbull and tbe tJlnn ot tlmLmiddottnaml ybv tboir olTinJ ATe rebuffed OT

l lIl th y lla ofirnded aglrust humnn dignrly T hi d IIot IIDI I)middot thnt M6ncz hbullbull noetllsic vlrw or

tile pIS or LdiovCE tool IOciety is tatilt ne look~ to Illu iuture IUId enjoys t he _baUen or the uew ellll be soon

u Se6 P Uil ~ p_ 7K U$eP Po 09shyu~ p lia

22

in hibullbullymptl~htic pori mit of Ibmiddot boy in Sulk 8or who i dotermUwd to f son[1l from lh tndi liolF of the Horto shybagy Tili i lmllelt-d by hi3 maJTeUoWlly lyrical account of tho IlITival of ~pring in th same region where t he illtrod uction of riUI a lotlly nBW crop olf hO]J6 for t h future 1 BrwJh oj Spr1I9 0 the liurlrXHigy one of 116ricz I~ ~t piCteB of writillg is D m015terpieCc of rlescripshy(jOD I I is to bltgt roWpIl r c il with SNU I I in t he fOTJDll tho nuthor is t he only humlln being iu t lw stenr listonlDg to bird-song tlDci ohSfr ing B[1ture in detnil whiJo In t he la-tlcr nil F noise lHHl hUllmn IHtmiddot with nllturo III t ho back shyground Both reed Uko 61mipts

M6ria Wloto littlo about his fl ttitudc t o wrihng ] n ii

m illa tlk of 1930 hI declared t h t he himlpound bullbull a l iry aD tho wat ch If r do sa uythin~ J fod f(1lBC

of respolllbllity-wbet is il lbet I Jlllllrt say to 1 HU ll shygarilLn I 1lw [ i ling nu And i8 shared by roost II nllshygtuinn wr ltlB ho bcl~l~va that i t i9 thoir retlpltlIUihilily to point the way to fi buttr fUlure lie fried thl~ IlpoundB with him f hen ho WR-~ invit-ed t Q join hfo ~iLanAI tJ4Jlru of )Jtsl ~ft(r Ih deftlh of II (middotd itor- rn-cbi1 inlfl~UJ And ho t ried hlm l to widen til horizon of ht al dy tb mOtit inOu(tnlinl liternry jounut in tht country -hell h is Jfort (0 I d 1 took oVr anoUwr jOllmnl Edd vIp (Ppk of tl Ea) in UJ3) in ordeno write s he D Illid t o fluggrEt pnuHual rays of ~IlHurmg tl bcltl futurc for the country middotlOP p loY1I politi juEt bUlldJ wM OM of hig l~ ntl 0 tnnt hbimidf put int o pmoshyfieltgt1 hi counny 0011 8 III JAoirnyfA Iogt north uf Budnpe1t though typi11y he jmiddotlnllloyll 1loollrorB who wero Rood IJllkeno n lid wou ld ofl~D entertain him when be went La )ptrvloe milo n ttl doonted cottage ilulrl~

hiJh ~mlmiddotd oJl lntcrucly prooUcol plan to brilIlif~ t tl COllntrwicle at n hme wilellrBw nmteritlh wet 11 short supply_ LJd ly Uus time hb own obol llt of HU1I~~iAn

g p 1amp1 ampI See p 2~ t Yirq llQriez 0 flL 40G

3

soltucty ould mOTu partle-ul rly of the situation of Ih middot POOJlshynnll bad Ien corrOOOl1lted by the disLurw ng wass of idllce colleot ed by the so-eruJcd villaS lrohenmiddot t heir sta tiHtics nd p hotltlll p hs 161led Rituation juat ns grinl 36 )16riC2 had painlltd it in hiB report ampDd stories Ono of hi Jast vcnture9 8 =rllud with t lw dis5emiOllshyiou of culture He compiled amp olwep jJ3lbaQk linl hoJogy

of fl ulIgnrinn lite rot uro maiuly jJOlttry eJHtl-d MIVJr~~ (Sower l~I) ) and in It brief [(word empliled the role f lilcrttun 111 n tionol )[fe Indicating LhaL bo hAd oboeen

living works that would inspi re particularly too youth of tbe cOu try

I16ri02 W(I8 paampnollnto ob~rvt1r of the humun iQtUlt-

IUId skj lful portry of its folli Whnl he 56W WIt5 blPk Iwd fIO ro nnd he OO R eyd t his with d rom tic inLensity But he can he p roPrly OltltIIed of Illro ly T()Bing problems and offcdul uO 6u] ution be hfLB no redemptive or reforming me8wtge uo glorious fu tu re to procJalPl and bo rsrely proloes Iclow the surface Yet i~ is preciBely his capacity to disclirb tho roucinco of the dcr t hat is his strength A ret1 Writer~ he- doolnred onC(~) CAn only d~(1)VeT commnnicnto and recrent6 Hf bullbull This i what bJo d0t8 for Hungarian Ilml foreign den alike

corge F OWJninl)

Vallomdt az ir6rOl In TtlIltdmdnyok I Budopet 1978 Til

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EVFu~ poundSI ES

m bull t good thin( It was tha gods orddncd thot -CD l h poor should be bl to IRugh

In th~ir hovels can be rurd not only the 9Duru1 of Pshying Hod ailing but quite lot of hearl (clt lugMcr too Indeed it is une 10 oay thaL I he poor oftlgtJl b4lh hnn l hey hAve more lt(Ill to ory

I knOll tM world well Tllu geDerAtion of S6geo to wh ich my father belongetl pl umbt-d the lowest depth of rl l lttt shytian At tbnt tiUlJl my fthar os 11 dny-lllboUlllT in bull rnacWOOp ITo d not bout nblll tlua period nor docs onyono 1 n ul tbt 1 tho l ruth

1t i nlao true t hat I s ncmiddot to l bull bull uh an m nch iu the t of my life Il8 I djd during tbot ClJUpl of yelUfi of illY ahildhuod_

How can 1 11ngh wban th~t Iller) I06ychookud molImr of mine is no lo~er Alive--ltlhe who Ould laugh 9D orUy that in the end (ltgtano trickled from bar eyea ltgtnd 00 wns oeizlt-d by such G tit of coughing t h~t it almtJ8l cooked her

And even shu neer Iugbod so mllch as wrun llw two of us spunt n wholll nftem oon soarchiog for ampeven pennies We searohampd for lbpm and e found them too Tbroo in too drOWN of lhe sewinsmiddotmachine one 10 l he cupboord shythe t oro m arc dimeult t o lind

The flrat t hree penies m y motber dincOVNld herself She thought oho would fi nd m On in the wins -ma ohine droor eiuue she took iII sr-wing a nd always put t here whatevct money shu nl paid FOT IDe this drnwcr W(18 an inexhaUltiblc trsure-hoard you only bad to put yonr hond iruido and there ns tho fairy-ta lc table t bat sp roud itself

So I gazed in nstotUsbment when my mother searched through it scooping everything out pins thimble scissors

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