Customer Reviews

A Concise History of Hungary (Cambridge Concise Histories)

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4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
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This is a surprisingly fine book. It is lively and concise. It is efficient, covering all major episodes of Hungarian history from the beginnings to about 1995. It never lingers or goes into excessive detail. The author's opinions are balanced. The translation (from French to English) is really excellently done. There could be more illustrations, but those that are included are good. The rather dull cover leads one to expect a rather dull book, but in fact it is a very satisfying one and easy to digest.

This is a complete and comprehensive history of the Hungarian land, people, society, culture and economy from its nebulous origins in the Ural mountains of Russia to the elections of 1988. It was written by a Hungarian born, Latin educated, French speaking, Nazi persecuted Swiss historian. The book tells the story of a once upon a time great nation that went into decline following Ottoman, Austrian and Soviet occupations at the same time preserving its unique language and European culture. The author links Hungary's political decline to its social, economic and cultural deficiencies. The country was under Hapsburg domination for four centuries and achieved its independence only after World War I, after having lost two thirds of its territory and half of its population. Now free of Soviet domination since 1990, Hungary seeks its place in the European Union of nations.

For a history book, I felt the author did an excellent job of providing a balanced and comprehensive piece of work that was also enjoyable to read. I enjoy reading history, but sometimes I find myself avoiding history books once I begin them, after the initial interest wears off. I read this on the trains of Europe, and it vastly improved my understanding of Hungary and the surrounding regions, making my visit to the area much more meaningful. This excellent book provided a clear understanding of the background of this often overlooked corner of Europe. An excellent choice for anyone traveling to Slovakia, Hungary or Transylvania.

This is a well-written, seemingly well-researched and authenticated history of the region, people and cultures which combined to create the modern Hungary. This would be an excellent refernce for anyone planning travel to Hungary - whether for the first time or repeat vistis. It provides excellent context for many of the features Hungary in general offers and should be beneficial to the reader in engaging with the Magyar people.

I am traveling in Hungary and Romania later this year so wanted to learn all about the history of the areas. Not a page turner, but I didn't expect one, but as the title states, it's a concise history covering about 2000 years and I have learned much.

The history of Hungary is complex and long and any writer that can help the reader to comprehend the influences and changes in that course is to be highly valued. I am in the process of reading it now, having gotten up to St Stephen/Istvan Kiraly. The mythology is demystified and where there are no 'facts', influences and historical movements are cited to frame the history. I am only at the year 1000, but I expect the wild swings of the next 1000 years to be told as clearly.

Miklos Molnar's "A Concise History of Hungary" provides exactly what the book's title indicates. In this entry in Cambridge University Press's "Concise Histories" series, Molnar, a Hungarian professor who survived imprisonment by the Nazis and fled Hungary after the Soviet suppression of the 1956 Hungarian revolution, captures well the complexity and texture of Hungarian history from prehistoric times through the post-Cold War Hungarian society of the 1990's. To capture all that history in 355 pages is truly a challenge, but Molnar writes well and gives the reader a clear sense of the often tangled alliances and rivalries that characterized much of Hungary's history. Well-illustrated with photographs, maps, and examples of historically significant artwork. Recommended for readers with an interest in Hungarian or Central European history.

The History of Hungary was definately concise. I did not get to stay in one time for very long and would have liked more information in some years of Hungary's history. But for the name of the book and the information it was an appropriate title.