Az Egri Ho Si Minh Tanárképző Főiskola Tud. Közleményei. 1984. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 17)
I. TANULMÁNYOK A TÁRSADALOMTUDOMÁNYOK KÖRÉBŐL - Lehel Vadon: The Reception of Upton Sinclair's Works in Hungary
is that "simply by telling the facts, valid recording of evidence and puritan chronicling, he contrives the unbelievable sufferings of Sacco and Vanzetti into an arraignment of the age. . . Sinclair's book, taking upon itself the responsibility of the age, is the first gospel of a new Golgotha. It is a report, a rectification in the name of truth: the truth itself! Not a novel!" 6 9 For György Szántó Sinclair's novel also represented the vision of Golgotha. "It is the exact and valid chronicle of the Calvary and electric-chair Golgotha of Boston's Sacco and Vanzetti. . . it is already not a novel, but a Greek tragedy of fate which carries in itself the unavoidable, immutable downfall of its heroes". 7 0 19. In 1930 Upton Sinclair informed Nepszava's booksellers of the completion of his novel, Mountain City (1930). 7 1 The Publishing House undertook the leading part in popularizing the novel in Hungary. In 1930 and 1931 five reviews appeared in the daily newspaper Népszava, and each ajrpreciated it as an important literary work, though confining their criticism to a review of the content of the novel. The novel could first be read in Hungary in Népszava. The daily newspaper printed the novel in serial form, in the translation by Soma Braun, in 1931, with the title Hajrá, JedZ 7 2 In 1933 and 1943 it was published by Nova Publishing House in book form, with the title Hajsza a pénz után. 20. Roman Holiday (1931) was received with unusual indifference by Hungarian critics. Only Népszava informed its readers of the first American publication of the novel. The review printed in 1931, praised only the interesting plot and up-to-dateness of the theme. 7 3 Nova Publishing House edited the novel in 1934 and 1944 under the translation of Emmy B. Karinthy. Criticism was very noncommittal at the time of the Hungarian publication. 21. In his novel The Wet Parade (1931), Upton Sinclair wrote of the reign of the alcohol barons, of the fight between the "drys" and the "wets". The book was published in Hungary by Nova in 1933 and 1943, in the translation of Emmy B. Karinthy. 22. The autobiography of Sinclair was published twice under the translation of Sándor Benamy by Epocha Publishing House; first in 1938 with the Hungarian title Upton Sinclair Önéletrajza and for the second time in 1947 with a literal translation of the original title: American Outpost (1932). Only one review evaluated the Hungarian publication of the book. Imre Robotos in Korunk definitely condemned the book: "Nowhere does Sinclair's autobiography exemplify the worldly wisdom and moderateness of great, settled spirit." 7 4 Only Irodalmi Szemle called attention to the second publication of the autobiography in a short, informational notice, quoting the evaluation of H. L. Mencken, who considered it to be Sinclair's best work. 7 5 23. The Gnomobile (1936) was published in Hungary by the Móra Publishing House, under the translation of Dezső Tandori, in 1973. The periodicals Uj Könyvek, Érdekes Könyvújdonságok and Könyvbarát briefly reviewed the content of the novel-length tale and praised the publishing house for having undertaken its publication, thus providing for the younger generation a new amusing, edifying and adventurous book. 7 6 In 1976 Ilona Vadász adopted the book into a radio play which was broadcast on Kossuth Radio on the second, sixth and seventh of July, 1976. 7 7 427
