I read this in German over Easter following your recommendation and just came back to the interview - thank you so much, such a fascinating conversation and love that you are putting a spotlight on translated fiction as well, I feel like it's such an underdiscovered world in the English-speaking countries!
Chiming in to say, I was thrilled to attend this tremendous conversation in person (which I discovered thanks to the tremendous Literary London newsletter). I'm based in the United States and was over in London for a long weekend. I'd already purchased a ticket to see the 7:30 PM performance of Inter Alia when I stumbled across the listing for your lovely event with Nelio, a mere ten-minute walk down the road. My only regret was that I had to jet off early and miss the chance to offer my sincere gratitude (for this event and all of your work) in person. An evening with Pandora Sykes and Rosamund Pike = total dream! PS, loved the book, particularly the masterful scene-setting with densely packed trees, fishponds, wheat fields and stag-filled forests. The characters' torturous internal struggles reflected the tumultuous external action; Biedermann is, for sure, a talent to watch.
Thank you for the interview Pandora - please do share them in the future, loved it ☺️ The author is so intelligent and so lovely! When you first mentioned the book in a post, I immediately bought it and read it - I implicitly trust your recommendations and as a Hungarian, I was intrigued by the plot and it has been met by almost unanimous rave reviews. And whilst I love the fact that a book so heavy on Hungarian history is getting this much attention, I personally didn’t find the book memorable and spent a lot of time reflecting on why this was.
My impression is that this book is excellent if you’re not Hungarian or don’t know a lot about its history, but otherwise doesn’t have that much to offer. I loved the magical realism in the book (though I would’ve wanted more of it, I thought it kind of disappeared towards the end) and the perspective of how life was for aristocrats during and post WW2 was partially new to me - such as the aristocracy’s complicity with / ignorance about the Nazis, buying random paintings of aristocrats on flea markets, being raised with the old customs in case they get back their fortunes, or not being allowed to serve in the army. However other elements are all very well known to Hungarians, such as the Russians’ actions towards the end of WW2 (although the scene with the maid and the jewellery was harrowing), how non-desired citizens were sent to work on the fields, being expropriated by the communists and the impact of the 1956 revolution. Most of us have our own family stories similar to this - my grandparents lost their little boy, but themselves survived the Holocaust, then all their property was taken by the communists, then they lost everything again when Russians tanks came in ‘56 - so I don’t think it could offer me a new perspective or information that I haven’t heard in history lessons, seen in films, or read in novels about the era, and I didn’t find the characters memorable enough for this book to make a lasting impression on me. It will be translated into Hungarian and I’ll be curious if other Hungarian readers will share my opinions.
I did gift the book to my non-Hungarian in laws though, to gauge their reaction! And the author is clearly very talented and I will read what he writes next ❤️But overall, this is a book I’d only recommend to people who are not familiar with Hungary’s history.
Thank you for your thoughtful and thorough response, Zsófi. It doesn't surprise me that you found it flimsy on the history front, because it's a short novel and, as Nelio emphasised in our conversation, he wanted to keep the characters front and centre, rather than the historical events. There are already so many history books, and he wanted to reflect the experiences of one aristocratic family (for instance, that the Lázárs were much more affected by Stalinism than they were Nazism.) I think that was the smart decision - I found the family and the various peripheral characters fascinating. You are totally right that I learned lots because my knowledge of Hungarian history before was woeful (I think we could probably say, non-existent) but you're right that it's unlikely to teach Hungarians anything new on the history front. (He lives in Zurich so it was published first in Germany and that will be its core audience, I imagine, before UK, America etc.) But that's why you have Mrs Virag's unwashed loins to entertain you, instead....! All that said, books are marvellously personal, so totally respect if this one didn't land for you.
That was a delicious rainy Easter Saturday watch! Added to the list!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it
Love an author interview so keep them coming! Adding this read to my list.
This is great to hear, thank you <3. I have another one planned for June!
I read this in German over Easter following your recommendation and just came back to the interview - thank you so much, such a fascinating conversation and love that you are putting a spotlight on translated fiction as well, I feel like it's such an underdiscovered world in the English-speaking countries!
I wish I could read it in the language Nelio wrote it in! But he says he loves it in English, too. I’m so glad you enjoyed the interview
Chiming in to say, I was thrilled to attend this tremendous conversation in person (which I discovered thanks to the tremendous Literary London newsletter). I'm based in the United States and was over in London for a long weekend. I'd already purchased a ticket to see the 7:30 PM performance of Inter Alia when I stumbled across the listing for your lovely event with Nelio, a mere ten-minute walk down the road. My only regret was that I had to jet off early and miss the chance to offer my sincere gratitude (for this event and all of your work) in person. An evening with Pandora Sykes and Rosamund Pike = total dream! PS, loved the book, particularly the masterful scene-setting with densely packed trees, fishponds, wheat fields and stag-filled forests. The characters' torturous internal struggles reflected the tumultuous external action; Biedermann is, for sure, a talent to watch.
That is so gorgeous to hear. And I’d love to see that play - she’s so cool. I hope you had a wonderful long weekend!
Thank you for the interview Pandora - please do share them in the future, loved it ☺️ The author is so intelligent and so lovely! When you first mentioned the book in a post, I immediately bought it and read it - I implicitly trust your recommendations and as a Hungarian, I was intrigued by the plot and it has been met by almost unanimous rave reviews. And whilst I love the fact that a book so heavy on Hungarian history is getting this much attention, I personally didn’t find the book memorable and spent a lot of time reflecting on why this was.
My impression is that this book is excellent if you’re not Hungarian or don’t know a lot about its history, but otherwise doesn’t have that much to offer. I loved the magical realism in the book (though I would’ve wanted more of it, I thought it kind of disappeared towards the end) and the perspective of how life was for aristocrats during and post WW2 was partially new to me - such as the aristocracy’s complicity with / ignorance about the Nazis, buying random paintings of aristocrats on flea markets, being raised with the old customs in case they get back their fortunes, or not being allowed to serve in the army. However other elements are all very well known to Hungarians, such as the Russians’ actions towards the end of WW2 (although the scene with the maid and the jewellery was harrowing), how non-desired citizens were sent to work on the fields, being expropriated by the communists and the impact of the 1956 revolution. Most of us have our own family stories similar to this - my grandparents lost their little boy, but themselves survived the Holocaust, then all their property was taken by the communists, then they lost everything again when Russians tanks came in ‘56 - so I don’t think it could offer me a new perspective or information that I haven’t heard in history lessons, seen in films, or read in novels about the era, and I didn’t find the characters memorable enough for this book to make a lasting impression on me. It will be translated into Hungarian and I’ll be curious if other Hungarian readers will share my opinions.
I did gift the book to my non-Hungarian in laws though, to gauge their reaction! And the author is clearly very talented and I will read what he writes next ❤️But overall, this is a book I’d only recommend to people who are not familiar with Hungary’s history.
Thank you for your thoughtful and thorough response, Zsófi. It doesn't surprise me that you found it flimsy on the history front, because it's a short novel and, as Nelio emphasised in our conversation, he wanted to keep the characters front and centre, rather than the historical events. There are already so many history books, and he wanted to reflect the experiences of one aristocratic family (for instance, that the Lázárs were much more affected by Stalinism than they were Nazism.) I think that was the smart decision - I found the family and the various peripheral characters fascinating. You are totally right that I learned lots because my knowledge of Hungarian history before was woeful (I think we could probably say, non-existent) but you're right that it's unlikely to teach Hungarians anything new on the history front. (He lives in Zurich so it was published first in Germany and that will be its core audience, I imagine, before UK, America etc.) But that's why you have Mrs Virag's unwashed loins to entertain you, instead....! All that said, books are marvellously personal, so totally respect if this one didn't land for you.
Yippe! Thats my friday night sorted
as a translated fiction girlie, this one's for you