Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1985 (13. évfolyam, 43-46. szám)
1985 / 46. szám
\tt / VI1 AM6RICAN HUNGARIAN FOUNDATION HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER BOOKS Balassa, Iván and Gyula Ortutay, HUNGARIAN ETHNOGRAPHY AND FOLKLORE. Budapest: Corvina kiadó, 1984. (Original title: Magyar néprajz, Corvina, 1979.) 819 pages, 66 colored and 319 black/white plates, biblio, list of place names, index. $40.00 cloth. Preface by Alexander Fenton. The language barrier which separates Hungarian speakers from those who do not master the language has been responsible for a rather anemic communication exchange between English and Hungarian scholars up to the late 1950s. Since that time, an ever increasing number of translations have appeared in English language journals and on the book market in almost every discipline. In addition to the flow of regular books, a few album sized encyclopedic works of broad scopes appeared, such as Tamás Hofer and Edit Fel’s HUNGARIAN FOLK ART (Corvina, 1975) and now the volume before us. This book is divided into three major subdivisions under slightly confusing subtitles. After touching upon the origins of the Hungarians, the authors discuss the regional variations of the Hungarian ethnic group. The book further discusses the rural social structures in the framework of the family, organization of work, and the special role of the peasantry. The subdivision on material ethnography gives prominence to the forms of settlement, architecture of farm buildings, their development and regional differences. A chapter discusses food, its production, division and consumption. Other chapters deal with arts and crafts, such as pottery, carving, spinning and weaving. Folk poetry and prose, dance, songs and customs related to the calendar year and the rites of passage are analyzed. The specialist as well as the layman will find this comprehensive volume of Hungarian ethnography an important resource for his library. CRITICAL SURVEY OF POETRY: FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES, ed. by Frank N. Magill. Salem Press, P.O. Box 1097, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632, 1984. 2600 pages. 5 volumes. $250.00 cloth. A general essay and individual pieces on Endre Ady, János Arany, Mihály Babits, Gyula Illyés, Miklós Radnóti, and Mihály Vörösmarty provide Hungarian poetry a fair representation in this volume. The introductory essay by András Boros-Kazai gives a reasonably factual account, covering the major landmarks in its dozen pages; however an air of depreciation pervades it as it does the author’s essays on Babits and Vörösmarty. According to the reviewer, Hungarian literature can and should be placed in the Western literary tradition without apologies. The bibliographies are brief and limited to Western literary languages and include major “anthologies in translation.” The essays by Enikő Molnár- Basa (Ady, Arany, Petőfi), Karoly Nagy (lllye's) and Miklós EDITOR S CORNER Replies to our questionnaire disseminated with the Autumn issue have been slow in coming back due perhaps to the exhaustion caused by the Christmas correspondence. Rest assured that your comments and suggestions will have a decisive impact on the form and content of the HSN. What is more important, your advice may indirectly influence our decision in regard to the continuation or discontinuation of the newsletter. Some time in 1986 your editor may have to withdraw from his coveted position due to age and health, and a younger person will have to assume the honorable post of editorship. Please, share your views with us regarding these matters. MACARTHUR FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIPS IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY The Social Science Research Council administers a program of predoctoral and postdoctoral training and research fellowships in international security with funds provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Some 30 two-year fel lowsh i ps were awarded in 1985 du ring the f i rst year of this program. The Council and the Foundation seek to expand the conceptual base of security studies and to broaden the range of disciplines and scholarly approaches that are employed in this research. Potential candidates may apply for two-year pre- or postdoctoral awards that combine training and research. In the first year fellows undertake advanced training in a new field at institutions of their choice. In the second year, fellows conduct research incorporating knowledge acquired during their training year. Preference is given to those projects that bridge disciplinary barriers, integrate disparate orientations, apply new theories or new methods to old problems, or formulate new questions concerning international peace and security. Students who have specialized in the study of international peace and security issues are not eligible. The awards comprise $15,000 for living expenses, travel and research costs. Additional funds are made available for the payment of tuition and fees at institutions hosting a fellow’s training and research. The competition is open to candidates of any discipline and from any country. Interested persons may write to Social Science Research Council, Fellowship Program in International Peace and Security Studies, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158. Telephone: 212-661-0280. Glatter (Radnóti) are literary assessments within the limits of the collection. Overall, the essays are good and the general reader will be informed, and hopefully inspired to further study. A forthcoming volume on drama shall also contain several Hungarian contributions. (E. Molnár-Basa) (Continued on Page 2) NO. 46. WINTER, 19Ö5-1986, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER
