Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1980 (8. évfolyam, 23-26. szám)
1980 / 23-24. szám
history of national minorities was slightly treated. With the exception of the Saxons of Transylvania, who engaged in vigorous historiography in the 19th century, the Germans in northern Hungary (Szepesség) produced some monographs of local concern. Romanian historical scholarship revolved around the ethnogenesis of the Romanians with unresolved results. Slovak and Ruthenian historians also sought to establish legitimacy by tracing history of their groups to pre- Conquest times. Lorinczi, George G. and Thomas F. Dorian, “U.S.-Hungarian Joint Ventures: Prospects and Problems,” Law and Policy in International Business 10:4 (1978) 1205-1249. The authors examine the possibilities attendant upon Hungary receiving Most Favored Nation status in U.S. foreign trade relations, against the background of Hungary’s unique economy. Hungary has sought relaxation of tariff conditions for a long time. Cold War and financing objections were eventually overcome, and the status became effective in 1978. Requirements of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment have been met by Hungary, as its recent record of emigration for humanitarian reasons compares favorably with those of Poland and Romania, countries which received MFN status before Hungary did. Hungary is interested in a variety of trade and investment opportunities, including the buying and selling of patents and licenses, and the creation of joint ventures. Some concern was expressed by the U.S. as to the ability of Hungary to make appropriate payments in view of its shortage of hard currency. This fear is somewhat offset by the growing number of joint ventures which allow the formation of an “independent legal entity in which both parties have an equity position, with a separate identity from its sponsors, formed under the laws of the host country.” In addition to joint ventures, agreements of cooperation are also encouraged. One such agreement is an industrial corn producing system between the Bábolna State Farm and CPS Corn Production System of Chicago. The manufacture of Levi jeans under license is another example. So far only three joint ventures have been established: Volvo, Siemens, and Corning Medical. There are 65 Hungarian joint ventures operating outside of Hungary. The authors examine taxation and legal implications of each venture, and the regulatory effects of the Sherman and Clayton Acts. Finally, the possibilities and limitations of patent licensing, and the interest to Hungarian enterprises are examined. The authors conclude by pointing out that “the most important ingredient for success is a sensitivity on the part of each party to the cultural, regulatory, and economic framework of the other.” Lorinczi is a partner of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in Washington, D.C., and Dorian is Regulations Counsel (International) of the Executive Legal Director, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. □ Vardy, Agnes H., “The Image of the Turks in Jokai’s 'Historical Novels’ and Short Short Stories," Dusquene University Studies in History, 1979. Romantic novelists had the tendency to present the Turks as cruel and barbaric. While this reflected popular opinion, the perpetuation of such historical stereotypes is regrettable. Summaries of pertinent works and characterizations, along with copious references to historical works give a historian’s view of the literary spectrum. It is assumed, but not proven, that the atrocities chronicled by Jókai never happened, or that they were no worse than what was done on the other side. Some acknowledgement of Jdkai’s literary rather than NO. 23-24, SPRING, 1980, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER historical intentions, as well as of the conventions of the genres he used, would help set the novelist in a more accurate context. The author teaches at Robert Morris College. Footprints Magazine (Spring, 1979) published several translations from modern Hungarian poetry. The editor of the magazine, Nicholas Kolumban, is himself a translator. He prepared the English versions of “Fourliners” and “A Letter to My Young Son from Szigliget,” by Magda Gutay,“Emperor Butterfly” by Anna Kiss and “A Photo” by Otto Orbán. Emery George contributed a poem by Lajos Kassák (Midsummer) and one by Miklós Radnóti (Seventh Eclogue). George already has a volume of selected Radnóti translations to his credit. The translations are sensitive, capturing the images and the moods of the originals in good English verse. More such efforts are needed. Ö Held, Joseph, “John Hus,” in Czechoslovakia: the Heritage of Ages Past; Essay in Memory of Joseph Korbel. Columbia U. Press, 562 West 113 Street, New York, NY 10025, 1979, Distributed for East European Quarterly. Pages 57-73. The decline of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th century, and efforts to restore both political authority and religious reforms, played a role in the fate of John Hus and on his impact on the development of Czech nationalism. The jealousy between the privileged German burghers and the Czech aristocracy, as well as a general appeal for social justice, helped to spread Hus’ teachings. While Emperor Sigismund sacrificed Hus to his own interests, his death and the subsequent crusade against his followers helped to unify the movement. Ultimately, dissension within the ranks allowed the king to regain his power, though a moderate form of Hussitanism continued to be tolerated. The aristocracy increased its wealth and power, but in general the whole country suffered from the wars. The influence of the movement in Hungary is noteworthy: it led to the first Hungarian translation of the Bible and it undoubtedly had an effect on the peasant revolt of 1437 in Transylvania. The author is prof, of history at Rutgers U. Sanders, Ivan is a teacher, translator, and free-lance writer. He is affiliated with Suffolk County Community Coll, and his writings appeared in Books Abroad (see HSN no. 9, p. 5) Commonwealth, Nation, The New Republic, World Literature Today, and other journals. His most recent piece is on THE HUNGARIAN “NEW NOVEL,” World Literature Today, 51:4 (Autumn 1979) pp. 589-595. He sketches contemporary development of Hungarian prose by comparing style and content in Hungarian literature of the recent past. The relationship between tradition-bound vs. unconventional and realist writings is elucidated through discussions of writers, books, plays, and films. He says that contemporary prose is not dominated by experimental novelists. “Not only are established writers in the mainstream committed to realism; many younger novelists are also returning to traditional forms. For example, the popular József Balázs has revived anecdotal realism in his absorbing stories about peasant antiheroes caught in desperate historical situations__Ferenc Karinthy, a ‘hardcore’ realist, believes...that ‘in practice an abstract parable about the relationship between state power and individual conscience, which can be variously interpreted and which many people can’t figure out at all, is allowed to pass more easily than, say, a story about what really goes on in some of the 7
