The Spirit of Hungary : A Panorama of Hungarian History and Culture (Third Edition) [Hardcover]

Stephen Sisa (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0962842222 | ISBN-13: 978-0962842221 | Publication Date: November 1995 | Edition: 3 Sub

The Spirit of Hungary: A Panorama of Hungarian History and Culture includes these events that molded the nation's soul:

The arrival into the Carpathian Basin...the conversion to Christianity...the glory years of wealth and power...the Mongol invasion...the tragic battle of Mohacs, followed by 150 years of Turkish rule...the struggle and compromise with the Hapsburgs...wars of liberation led by Rakoczi and Kossuth...Hungary's dismemberment at Trianon in 1920...the Horthy era...Communist rule..."glory in defeat"--the Revolution of 1956...the struggle for survival of Hungarian ethnics in neighboring states..."glory in victory"--the bloodless revolution of 1989...a "nation without boundaries."

This book also provides witness to history through colorful biographies, including:

-Saint Stephen, who Christianized a nation of pagan warriors -Janos Hunyadi, the Defender of Christendom -Matthias, the Renaissance King -Ferenc Rakoczi, who held Europe's largest empire at bay with his ragtag army for eight years -Louis Kossuth, who was compared to Moses and Washington during his triumphant tour of America in 1851 -Queen Elizabeth, who became Hungary's "Guardian Angel" during her bittersweet life. -Cardinal Mindszenty, who defied Communist rule -and many others.

The Spirit of Hungary also provides a panorama of Hungarian culture, including its language, music, art, and literature.

Chapters on the "Hungarian Genius" and "A Nation of Champions" cover world-class achievements science, medicine, mathematics, and sports.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Sisa's expanded second edition (a first appeared in Canada in 1983) seeks to "illuminate the spirit of Hungary" and "bring out the soul of a people" through "biographical close-ups." It succeeds with a lively, fast-paced narrative abundantly enhanced by hundreds of engaging illustrations (of only medium quality of reproduction), numerous maps, and a plethora of apt quotations from chronicles, histories, poems, and literature (some without precise citation). Sisa's limpid, careful prose also delves broadly into Hungarian art, music, science, and literature. This is a rich, popular amalgam of national legends, myth, and history, written for a broad novice reader ship. It could be nicely complemented by the more rigorous cooperative scholarship of History of Hungary, edited by Peter Sugar ( LJ 11/15/90). Recommended for public libraries.
- James B. Street, Santa Cruz P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Review

(Selected as a resource for further study of Hungarian history) -- Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999

Most readable and popular English-language survey of Hungarian history and civilization. -- Guide to Historical Literature, American Historical Association, Oxford University Press, 1999

Sisa's broad historical survey of the Hungarian people, from preconquest days to 1990 (publisher's note: 3rd Edition extends to 1995) is rich in ethnographic, cultural, and biographical detail...All those who want to get a feel for the spirit, the "soul" of these remarkable people will be delighted with this handsome, smoothly written, richly illustrated volume. -- History: Reviews of New Books, Winter, 1992

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Vista Court Books; 3 Sub edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962842222
• ISBN-13: 978-0962842221
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,296,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Hungary, July 27, 2000

By 

Nicholas Szekasy (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of Hungary : A Panorama of Hungarian History and Culture (Third Edition) (Hardcover)

I had the opportunity to read the book's third edition, appeared in 1995, comparing it with its original edition and found it considerably improved. Besides giving very good data about the facts of Hungary's history, it is also spiced with chapters from famous historical novels, which gives an additional insight to some important historical moments (I liked specially "The pagans"). It also contains an ample panorama of Hungarian culture, an explanation of the origin of Hungarian language and a description of Hungarian music, literature and art. A very recommendable book for all persons, who wish to receive an insight to Hungary's history, past and present. After five years, a new edition, with updates of the latest events, like the 1100 years of the establishment of Hungarians in the Carpathian basin and the Millenium year of St. Stephen's crowning, would be welcome.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most thorough, unbiased accounting of Hungarian History., April 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Spirit of Hungary : A Panorama of Hungarian History and Culture (Third Edition) (Hardcover)

Steven Sisa needs to be commended for the most thorough, unbiased accounting of Hungarian history that I have read to date in the english language. He has captured the essential ingredients of Hungary's 1000 year presence in the heart of Europe while avoiding superfluous details. Anecdotes of the likes of Attila the Hun and Batu Khan, the Mongol chieftan who led his merciless forces against Christian Europe in 1240-41, spring to life with unusual vividness. Anyone desiring to have a concise picture in one volume of Hungary's colorful yet tumultuous history should not miss the opportunity of having this book in their library.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Hungary's impact, March 19, 2003

By 

John L Murphy "Fionnchú" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spirit of Hungary : A Panorama of Hungarian History and Culture (Second Edition) (Hardcover)

Preparing for a trip to Hungary, I enjoyed Sisa's rather old-fashioned narrative history. Suprisingly, the opening chapters proved gripping, filled with enthusiastically rendered anecdotes about early rulers, medieval battles, and lots of double-crossing diplomats and nobles. There's material here for a dozen epic (English-language at least!) novels or movies. Extracts from historical novels sprinkled throughout the book from otherwise untranslated Hungarian authors spice up Sisa's entrees vividly.

As Hungary becomes its own empire, then falls under Turkish and Habsburg dominance, the story keeps pace. When the Austrians take over, and nationalism emerges, you root for the heroes even as Sisa fairly tries to show how other Hungarians and minority peoples allied with the imperialists for their own reasons. Distinguishing the "state" from a "people" and a "nation" clarifies his presentation for Western readers who may lump these terms differently than they apply to Central Europe and the Balkans.

I found the latter part of the book a bit less engrossing; I expected more on 1956 and especially the Kadar period up to 1989. This post-revolt stage seems glossed over too quickly, even as other sections elaborate (especially in the second and third editions) in too much detail for the novice diplomatic and territorial confrontations with Romania, the former Czechoslovakia, and the Balkan states regarding Hungarian minorities and the aftermath of Trianon. This material may better suit political students of this period than the first-time reader wanting a panoramic view of Hungarian history and culture.

The absence of tanchaz music and the 1980s folk-music revival (Muszikas, Marta Sebestyen, romany/gypsy artists for example) bringing Hungary onto the "world music" scene means that you find a lot deservedly on classical music but not its modern folk offshoots and grafts. However, plenty of coverage of art and literature balances this omission, I suppose.

Written with obvious love and passion, yet remaining fair-minded about, say, the mixed blessings and upheavals Jewish immigration caused in the 19th c., the betrayals of its leaders, or the demands of minorities within Hungary's shifting borders, Sisa's book filled a need for a popularly aimed, solid work--belying its coffee-table size and rather rough-hewn cut-and-paste (pre-word processing) layout. Best read a few chapters at a time, the old-fashioned way: in a comfy armchair, propped open on your lap.