Géza Gárdonyi
Encyclopedia
Géza Gárdonyi, born Géza Ziegler (August 3, 1863 – October 30, 1922) was a Hungarian
writer and journalist. Although he wrote a range of works, he had his greatest success as a historical novel
ist, particularly with Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
and Slave of the Huns
.
, the son of a machinist on the estate of an aristocrat in Western Hungary. He graduated at a college for teachers and worked for some years as a teacher and Catholic
cantor
. He married Mária Molnár in 1885, but their marriage was unhappy and they separated in 1892.
Gárdonyi's career as a writer started off when he began writing for magazines and newspapers in the mid-1880s. His first successes were the satirical "Göre Gábor" letters on rural life, works which he later repudiated. Around the turn of the century, he started to tackle historical themes in writing, which resulted in a series of fine novels.
He moved to Eger (today's northern Hungary) in 1897 with his mother and lived there until his death. He is also buried there, with his tomb bearing the inscription Csak a teste ("Only his body"). The house where he lived and did most of his writing is now preserved as a museum
.
, but it was published in English as Eclipse of the Crescent Moon. It is set around a famous siege of the town of Eger
in Hungary by the Ottomans in the year 1552. In 2005 this book was voted "the most popular novel of Hungary" by viewers of the television programme Big Read
(A Nagy Könyv).
It is set around the time of Attila the Hun
.
Although these two novels are very well known in Hungary, translations into English and other European languages only became widely published in the late 20th century.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
writer and journalist. Although he wrote a range of works, he had his greatest success as a historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
ist, particularly with Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
Eclipse of the Crescent Moon is a historical novel by the Hungarian writer Géza Gárdonyi. It was first published in 1899 and is one of the most popular novels in Hungary.-Background:...
and Slave of the Huns
Slave of the Huns
Slave of the Huns is a novel by the Hungarian writer Géza Gárdonyi, published in 1901. The original Hungarian title is A láthatatlan ember, which translates literally as The Invisible Man, but its title was changed in English .In the opinion of some people, including Gárdonyi himself, it is his...
.
Life
Gárdonyi was born in Agárdpuszta, Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, the son of a machinist on the estate of an aristocrat in Western Hungary. He graduated at a college for teachers and worked for some years as a teacher and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
. He married Mária Molnár in 1885, but their marriage was unhappy and they separated in 1892.
Gárdonyi's career as a writer started off when he began writing for magazines and newspapers in the mid-1880s. His first successes were the satirical "Göre Gábor" letters on rural life, works which he later repudiated. Around the turn of the century, he started to tackle historical themes in writing, which resulted in a series of fine novels.
He moved to Eger (today's northern Hungary) in 1897 with his mother and lived there until his death. He is also buried there, with his tomb bearing the inscription Csak a teste ("Only his body"). The house where he lived and did most of his writing is now preserved as a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
.
Eclipse of the Crescent Moon
Gárdonyi's most famous novel Egri csillagok was published in 1899. The title translates literally as Stars of EgerEger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, but it was published in English as Eclipse of the Crescent Moon. It is set around a famous siege of the town of Eger
Siege of Eger
The Siege of Eger occurred during the 16th century Ottoman Wars in Europe. It was a major Hungarian victory after a series of crushing defeats at the hands of Ottoman forces and checked the Ottoman expansion into both Central Europe and Eastern Europe....
in Hungary by the Ottomans in the year 1552. In 2005 this book was voted "the most popular novel of Hungary" by viewers of the television programme Big Read
Big Read (Hungarian)
Big Read is the Hungarian version of the BBC Big Read.The Big Read was imported into Hungary under the name A Nagy Könyv and took place in 2005. Around 1400 libraries, 500 book shops and 1300 schools participated in the competition in various ways...
(A Nagy Könyv).
Slave of the Huns
In the opinion of some people his best work was A láthatatlan ember, published in 1901. The title translates literally as The Invisible Man, but it was published in English as Slave of the HunsHuns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
It is set around the time of Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun
Attila , more frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in 453. He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. During his reign he was one of the most feared...
.
Although these two novels are very well known in Hungary, translations into English and other European languages only became widely published in the late 20th century.
Works
- Egri csillagok (Stars of Eger / Eclipse of the Crescent MoonEclipse of the Crescent MoonEclipse of the Crescent Moon is a historical novel by the Hungarian writer Géza Gárdonyi. It was first published in 1899 and is one of the most popular novels in Hungary.-Background:...
) - A láthatatlan ember (The Invisible Man / Slave of the HunsSlave of the HunsSlave of the Huns is a novel by the Hungarian writer Géza Gárdonyi, published in 1901. The original Hungarian title is A láthatatlan ember, which translates literally as The Invisible Man, but its title was changed in English .In the opinion of some people, including Gárdonyi himself, it is his...
) - Isten rabjai (Prisoners of God)
- A lámpás (The Lamp)
- A bor (The Wine)
- Ida regénye (Ida's Novel)
- Hosszúhajú veszedelem (The Menace with Long Hair)
- Az én falum (My Village)
- Az égre néző lélek (Spirit, Looking at the Sky)
- Állatmesék (Animal Tales)