A History of Hungary: Millennium in Central Europe [Hardcover]

Laszlo Kontler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2003

This volume provides an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of Hungarian history, from the pre-historic age to the present day. László Kontler adeptly steers the reader through ancient times, the great migration of peoples, and the creation and troubles of a Christian monarchy that arose in the region wedged between the Germanic and Russian lands. The factors involved in the centuries-long process which has put Hungary at a disadvantage in coping with the challenges of modernity are also explored; including the country's economic backwardness, the social structure, revolutions, wars of independence, and territorial losses.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This impressive survey provides a comprehensive, intelligently argued and clearly written overview of the rich history of Hungary. Overshadowed by the more powerful Ottoman, Habsburg, Nazi and Soviet empires, Hungary’s story is one of foreign domination punctuated by romantic but doomed revolts that, in 1848 and 1956, made Hungary the standard-bearer of freedom in the eyes of a rapt world. Kontler, a history professor at the Central European University in Budapest, tells this story in a brisk but detailed narrative that takes readers from Hungary’s ancient origins to its present-day transition to democracy and struggle to find a place in the post-Communist European order. But he goes well beyond kings-and-battles political history to examine broader social, political and economic issues: the tension between Hungary’s economic backwardness and its cultural and political affinity to the West; the difficulties of transforming a peasant society into a modern industrial economy; and the struggle to accommodate the competing nationalist aspirations of a multi-ethnic state within a liberal political order. These are important themes not just of Hungarian but of European history as a whole, and the author’s searching discussions illuminate them in profound ways. Kontler’s thorough scholarship, thoughtful analysis and skillful storytelling will impress students, academics and history buffs alike.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Kontler...goes beyond basic information to provide penetrating interpretations of crucial moments in the Hungarian past..."--P.W. Knoll, Choice
"This is a magnificent work and, indeed, the best survey of Hungarian history ever published in any language.. . . This is a book which serves not only the general reader but also the specialist with an interest in just one part of Hungary's history. It is comprehensive, inspiring and provoking." --Martyn Rady, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition, First Printing edition (January 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1403903166
• ISBN-13: 978-1403903167
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,337,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Scholarly & Historical Book, July 14, 2003

By 

Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A History of Hungary: Millennium in Central Europe (Hardcover)

I was enormously pleased to discover this recently written Hungarian history book (published in 2002). I have searched for a comprehensive "English" Hungarian history book for over 20 years and FOUND IT AT LAST!!! While it is not *easy* reading, neither did I expect it to be. This is not fiction, it is a description of accurate, hard facts, "real life". One can not expect an author to make it "entertaining". Much of Hungarian history is filled with trials/tribulations, often caused by neighboring countries or the West who made treaties/alliances that worked against Hungarian autonomy. Hungary is situated in the center of Europe - hence the crossroads to the West, the Balkans, and Asia. The physical location of Hungary has created most of it's past political/historical problems and wars ...

Chapter I: "The Land, The People, The Migrations" is one of my favorites. Laszlo Kontler manages to create enticing, intriguing titles to each chapter, that makes one want to continue reading more. Although, it is often dry reading, one can easily stop & later take up any section. One can open any section for a good overview of important names, dates, and places in Hungarian history. Chapter II: "The Making of a Medieval Monarchy (895 - 1301)" is a great description of how Hungary's House of Arpad became a Catholic nation during feudalistic times. Kontler gives us a wonderful understanding of "The Golden Bull" and the rights/privileges and responsibilites of the nobility, landowners and peasants. He does a phenomenol job of revealing why Matthias Corvinus is a highly revered Monarch even today.

Hungary's "deviation" from the West and Western thinking is given a thorough analysis. The section on the Turkish wars and occupation is well written. Hungary's quest for expansion, even into Croatia and Serbia, & with some success almost as far as Naples, Italy is very fascinating. Chapter V is another absolutely thorough one which covers, the Enlightenment, Reforms, and the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. The quest to become a modern nation, despite Hungary's challenges, such as connection to the Austrian Empire is comprehensive and thoroughly covered. World Wars I and II are documented with precision and accuracy. The Chapter, "In Search of an Identity (1918 - 1945) is particularly well-written and an eye-opener. Chapter VII sums up the recent era, 1945 - 1989 with erudite accuracy.

A book of this magnitude and scope is difficult to write, I have great admiration for Laszlo Kontler 1)for his great breadth and depth of knowledge and 2) for his writing style which is flowing and precise. Mr Kontler does not interpret events for us, he gives us the facts and lets us examine our own feelings, thoughts or beliefs about the events as they unfold. He does not do modern day 'reporting', i.e., trying to sway the reader toward any political outcome or viewpoint. For this I give him the highest marks. This book is highly recommended for anyone of Hungarian origin or ancestry who wants to understand more about their roots or culture. Anyone else who has a keen interest in the origins of the Hungarian nation will also like this book, provided they are interested in "facts" rather than a "story". Erika Borsos (erikab93)

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars GOOD HISTORY, DRY READING, May 12, 2003

By 

R. J Szasz "Rod Szasz" (Tokyo, Japan Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A History of Hungary: Millennium in Central Europe (Hardcover)

This is one of the most dry books that I have read in a long time ---and do not underestimate my ability to put up with boring prose -- I can go against the best of them.

Having said that I would not want to discourage people from reading this book. It is an academic history and tries to cut some new ground throughout. Of particular note in the introduction is the shifting nature of what really constitutes Hungary since its "essnece" unlike Britain, for example, seems to change over time and be both geographical and historically dependent. From fierce Magyar horsemen, to guardians of the cross against the muslim infidel to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the present day Hungary divorced from its "traditional heartland of Transylvania," Hungary had always had a shifting disposition.

I did not the particular glossing over of the medieval period as I bought the book to learn more about this time. The author is really much better in his overview of more recent times and always keeps an cold analytical ear to the ground and informs you about the details of historical constants.

As the ultimate historical reference work on Hungary, this book will adorn my shelf, but if one is looking for a more flowing and exciting narrative, one would be better off with reading Paul Lendvai, "Hungary -- A 1000 Yrs of Victory in Defeat."

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying, May 23, 2007

By 

Reader "Pero" (Slovenia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Hungary (Paperback)

This is a satisfying overview of Hungarian history. The only shortcoming is unbalanced attention paid to modern and premodern period. Half of the book covers more than a millenium long premodern period until ca. 1830, another half is given to 170 years since then. For this reason, the earlier history is sometimes dealt with superficially, while the newer history perhaps sometimes goes too deep. Nevertheless, the book is worth reading and treats the matter in an objective manner.