Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1976 (4. évfolyam, 9-12. szám)
1976 / 12. szám
S*HUNGARIAN sám STUDIES NEWSLETTER No. 12 Winter 1976-77 Published three times a year: Winter, Spring and Autumn Editor: Dr. Bela C. Maday Journal Review Editor: Dr. Enikő' M. Basa Corresponding Editor: Dr. Lorant Czigany (London) Communications concerning content should be sent to the: EDITOR, HSN 4528 - 49th STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20016 Annual subscription in the United States: $3.00; abroad $4.00. Current single copy $1.00; back issues $1.50 each. Communications concerning subscriptions, advertising and circulation should be sent to: HUNGARIAN RESEARCH CENTER AMERICAN HUNGARIAN FOUNDATION 177 SOMERSET STREET P.O. BOX 1084 NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. 08903 BOOKS (Continued) collections began to deteriorate. Thus, Erdy has provided a valuable service to students of Sumerology by reprinting some of the most endangered important papers in their original form (facsimile) either in toto or in part. The author first presents a bibliography of 169 entries. This bibliography serves also as an index to the 61 papers reviewed and reprinted in the bilingual volume. The last chapter deals with Hungarian studies related to Sumerian topics between 1866 and the turn of the century. Among them are Giesswein’s linguistic studies of the relation between the Sumerian and Hungarian languages, and one on Torma’s Sumerian-type archaeological finds in Transylvania. A second volume, now under preparation, is to cover relevant publications in the 20th century. The author is an orientalist and general editor of the Studia Sumiro-Hungarica series. Nyerges, Anton N. EPICS OF THE HUNGARIAN PLAIN from JANOS ARANY. Classic Printing Co., 9527 Madison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102, 1976. 224 pages, illust. $8.95 paper. This work reassesses the Hungarian epic and its place among the epics of the world. The author’s introduction and translation of four of Arany’s epics (Death of Buda, Toldi, Toldi’s Love, and Toldi’s Eve) provide insights into cultural change as a new approach to the background of the Hungarian epic. Arany wrote his first epic in 1846 and concluded his fourth in 1879. Thus, their composition encompassed the years of the 1848-49 War of Independence and the subsequent years of cruel Austrian rule, as well as the Compromise of 1867, a chain of historical experiences which lend themselves very well for inspiring epics. “The internal unity of Arany’s four epics is found in the personalities of the heroes - Toldi and Buda/Attila. The former is representative of the strength and weaknesses of the Hungarian people; the latter of the character of leadership which emerges from the Hungarian personality and society.” Historical and explanatory notes, including glossaries of Hungarian words make the translation enjoyable to those with no Hungarian language knowledge. A biographical sketch of Arany, and a (all too) brief bibliography conclude the volume. Nyerges is Prof, at Eastern Kentucky U., and author of Poems of Endre Ady (1969), Attila József (1973), and Petőfi (1973). See HSN nos. 6 and 8. Rath, John R. ed. AUSTRIAN HISTORY YEARBOOK, Vol. XI, 1975. Rice U., Houston, TX 77001. 1976. 389 pages. $13.00 paper. For a general description of the yearbook see HSN no. 9. In this volume Péter Hanák has an article on “Economics, Society, and Sociopolitical Thought in Hungary during the Age of Capitalism." Győző Ember writes on “The Hungarian Archives.” with Peter Sugar's commenting on the article. The book review section could be rather useful for monolingual (English speaking) scholars, inasmuch as it presents reviews in English on books published in various languages. Just to get some taste of it: D. Kosáry, Bevezetés Magyarország történetének forrásaiba és irodalmába (Introduction to the Sources and Literature of Hungarian History); M. Bernath, Habsburg und die Anfänge der rumänischen Nationbildung (The Habsburgs and the Beginnings of the Romanian Nation Building); T.M. Islamov et al. Istoriia Vengrii (The History of Hungary); L. von Gogolák, Beitrage zur Geschichte des Slovakischen Volkes (Contributions to the History of the Slovak People). Some readers will find browsing through the lists of doctoral dissertations, books, and articles concerning Austria-Hungary also rewarding. Dr. Rath is prof, of history at Rice U. ságvári, Ágnes, ed. BUDAPEST; THE HISTORY OF A CAPITAL. Budapest: Corvina, 1975. 167 pages, illustr., tables, plates, chronology. $10.20 cloth. (Original title: Budapest. Fővárosunk története.) This volume contains select translated documents from and comments on the history of the tri-cities up to 1873, and on united Budapest until its centenary in 1973. To illustrate: the first chapter describes the history up to the end of Turkish occupation (1686) with supporting documents from Hungarian kings issuing charters and additional privileges to the city of Pest in 1244, 1276, 1403, and 1493. The narrative stresses political, economic, and social aspects with emphasis on labor movement and Hungarian-Soviet relations. Augmented by a chronology with population statistics, tables on transportation, international comparisons, and some 90 black and white plates of illustration, the volume is informative even if it is not scientific. Sanders, Irwin T., Roger Whitaker, and Walter C. Bisselle, eds. EAST EUROPEAN PEASANTRIES: SOCIAL RELATIONS: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PERIODICAL ARTICLES. G.K. Hall & Co., 70 Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111. 1976. 179 pages. $12.00 cloth. Students of East European societies and cultures find themselves handicapped because their source material is widely scattered in the pertinent literature, and frequently almost inaccessible. The collecting into some 30 volumes periodical articles dealing with rural life in Eastern Europe, and making these articles available to interested researchers at the Reference Room of the Mugar Library, Boston U., is an 2 NO. 12, 1976-77 HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER
