Babel Guide: Hungarian (Babel Guides to Literature in English Translation) [Paperback]

Ray Keenoy (Editor), Vivienne Menkes Ivry (Editor), Zsuzsanna Varga (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001 | ISBN-10: 1899460853 | ISBN-13: 978-1899460854

The Babel Guide to Hungarian Literature presents modern Hungarian literature that has been translated into English: novels, short story collections, poetry and drama. In addition to a database/bibliography at the end, many individual works are reviewed. Each review is followed by a brief extract to give a flavour of the book in question. The Babel Guides are a constantly expanding series of pocket reference books that introduce what is available in English translation from the literatures of the world. They are addressed to a non-specialized audience, with books for different tastes: from the avant-garde and experimental, to the family saga via historical romance and detective fiction. Essential for all public and academic libraries which encompass world literature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Easy and enjoyable..." -- The Times Literary Supplement. "Intelligent, comprehensible and entertaining..." -- Library Review. "An excellent series..." -- The Guardian. "Its user-friendly and reader-tempting; this is because of the excellent reviews..." -- The Observer. "Aimed at the reading public, these guides should be equally useful to librarians and teachers..." -- The Linguist. "Splendid and useful... a beautifully-conceived series of guides presenting English translations of contemporary fiction..." -- In Other Words. "A brilliant idea, well executed..." -- The Good Book Guide.

About the Author

Ray Keenoy founded Boulevard Books in 1994 to promote world literature in translation. He co-edited the 'Babel Guide to Hungarian Literature in Translation' (2001) and is senior editor of the world literature website babelguides.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Boulevard Books (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1899460853
• ISBN-13: 978-1899460854
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,947,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete Guide, August 19, 2003

By 

L. Koncz Judith Koncz (Dedham, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babel Guide: Hungarian (Babel Guides to Literature in English Translation) (Paperback)

The title should be Babel (Incomplete)Guide to Hungarian Literature. The so-called Database has many mistakes. If you type on a Hungarian keyboard watch the "z" and the "y". They are interchanged. I.e. Tibor Méray not MÉRAZ, or GZALUI, or Konnyzu. Some books are listed multiple times: Mór JÓKAI (not JOKÁI): "Debts of honour" four times the same two editions but still neglecting a third one by Doubleday, Page & Co, 1900. A. Makkai's anthology listed once as In the Quest of the Miracle Stag, a second time as Quest of the Miracle Stag (both incorrect titles). Among the anthologies why not list W.D.Snodrass' "Traditional Hungarian Songs" (1978)? If Tamás ACZÉL's The Ice Age is listed, why not list The Hunt as well? Ted Hughes' PILINSZKY translation at Carcanet Press is listed, why not his revised edition at Anvil Press? The only book by TANDORI is listed twice. One English book of Albert WASS is listed, but I have three more books of his in English in my library. Some of the authors living in the West but have English books are ignored: Albert VAJDA, Agnes VÁRDY HUSZÁR, Judith PETRES-BALOGH or Magda ZALÁN. And I guess Arthur KOESTLER and George MIKES are not considered Hungarian writers by the Hungarian Cultural Center in London or the Ministry of Culture in Budapest.
The abstracts of a few individual works and authors are good.
Buy the book because it is the only one of its kind. But beware...! There are many mistakes and omissions.