Slave of the Huns
Encyclopedia
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 (probably to differentiate it from H. G. Wells' novel
).
In the opinion of some people, including Gárdonyi himself, it is his best work. In 2005 it was ranked no. 38 in the Hungarian version of the survey "Big Read"
. An English translation by Andrew Feldmar was first published in 1969.
, and part of it is based on the Byzantine
diplomat Priscus
' account of his visit to Attila's court.
The narrator and hero of the novel is a young Byzantine freedman
of Priscus nickname
d Zeta who travels with him to Attila. He falls in love with Emmo, the daughter of a Hunnish nobleman (a "princess lointaine" figure). He commits himself to slavery among the Huns in the hope of eventually marrying her, to some extent going native among them.
It includes dramatic accounts of the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains between the Huns and the Romans, and the funeral of Attila.
Géza Gárdonyi
Géza Gárdonyi, born Géza Ziegler was a Hungarian writer and journalist. Although he wrote a range of works, he had his greatest success as a historical novelist, particularly with Eclipse of the Crescent Moon and Slave of the Huns.-Life:Gárdonyi was born in Agárdpuszta, Austria-Hungary, the son of...
, 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 (probably to differentiate it from H. G. Wells' novel
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
).
In the opinion of some people, including Gárdonyi himself, it is his best work. In 2005 it was ranked no. 38 in the Hungarian version of the survey "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...
. An English translation by Andrew Feldmar was first published in 1969.
Plot summary
It is set around the time of Attila the HunAttila 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...
, and part of it is based on the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
diplomat Priscus
Priscus
Priscus of Panium was a late Roman diplomat, sophist and historian from Rumelifeneri living in the Roman Empire during the 5th century. He accompanied Maximinus, the ambassador of Theodosius II, to the court of Attila in 448...
' account of his visit to Attila's court.
The narrator and hero of the novel is a young Byzantine freedman
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
of Priscus nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Zeta who travels with him to Attila. He falls in love with Emmo, the daughter of a Hunnish nobleman (a "princess lointaine" figure). He commits himself to slavery among the Huns in the hope of eventually marrying her, to some extent going native among them.
It includes dramatic accounts of the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains between the Huns and the Romans, and the funeral of Attila.