Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1976 (4. évfolyam, 9-12. szám)
1976 / 11. szám
ARTICLES AND PAPERS Austerlitz, Robert. “Brasov-Brassó^-Kronstadt-Berries and Bushes," in Xenia Slavica; Papers Presented to Gojko Ruzicic on the Occasion of his Seventy-Fifth Birthday, 2 February 1969, Rado Lencek and Boris O. Unbegaun, eds. (The Hague: Mouton, 1957), 17-22. Through extensive etymological analysis, Austerlitz suggests that the name Brassó, for the city in the southeastern corner of Transylvania can be traced to a plant or a berry. He cites several plants that are designated by braisa or birsa, including the Hungarian plant names derived from Slavic originals, namely borostyán, borosztán and bares. Even the German Kronstadt can be linked to this designation, through dialectal Kroonsbeere, a variant of which appears in the English cranberry. The author is Prof, of Linguistics at Columbia U. Bales, Kent. “Factors Determining the Translation of American Belles-Lettres into Hungarian 1945-1973.” The Slavonic and East European Review LIV (April 1976) 172- 191. Translations from foreign literature into Hungarian is largely motivated by cultural nationalism. During the coalition period, 1945-48, best sellers and works of some writers with politically progressive views were printed, chiefly. Upton Sinclair and John Steinbeck, whose works later disappeared until after 1956. Hemingway’s fate was similar, being anathemized in the Stalinist period but regaining popularity after 1956. A collection of the poems of Walt Whitman and a volume of Black American poetry was published. Since very little of earlier (19th century) literature was represented, Bales concludes that “Hungarians were acquainted with American literature but ignorant of most of it.” Between 1949 and 1956 “works expressing. . .social protest” received attention, thus Mark Twain and Jack London remained popular, and by the end of the period Dreiser’s An American Tragedy received a large printing also. After 1956 the organization of a publishing house (Europa) devoted chiefly to translations and György Lukács’s essay condemning provincialism in literature and suggesting that “writers and readers were no longer children in need of guidance,” set the tone. The periodical, Nagyvilág begun in 1956, contributing significantly to the awareness of foreign DISSERTATIONS (Continued) wake of World War I. Hungarian political maneuvers towards the United States must be considered against this background. Hungary becamean important listening postfor American diplomats. As a result, the diplomatic service of the United States in Hungary was superior to that in some countries of similar size. Cultural relations also were significant. American thought did reach Hungary from the early 1800s. Hungarian scholars of the inter-war period were acquainted with contemporary American art, literature, and philosophy. For Americans, the Hungarian immigration as well as the visiting Hungarian artists and scientists made known the Hungarian culture and way of life. The study also discusses the economic relations between the two countries. In the 1920s, American capital helped Hungary’s economic and financial reconstruction. In the 1930s, the discovery of oil in Hungary by the Standard Oil Company (New Jersey) made Hungary an important business partner of the United States in Eastern Europe. literature both through critical essays and translations. Not only was Hemingway reinstated, but the works of other American writers also appeared such as those of Thomas Wolfe, Henry Miller, William Faulkner, Edmund Wilson, Irwin Shaw and Herman Melville, too, was represented. The selections suggest that the editors had become very well informed about American literature. Cultural policy has not changed, and three types of books remain unacceptable: any book containing criticism of Marxism or the Soviet Union; pornography; nihilistic works may be justified by a foreword or afterword. Though much more could be tolerated than is, the selection process is governed by economic as well as political factors: salability is a major criterion because the popular American translations subsidize the translations from Soviet and neighboring literatures. The reading public expects to find American life mirrored in these works, and so poets and many 19th century authors have fared especially badly. However, a representative list of poets have had individual volumes issued, and the 1966 anthology of American poetry is being followed by a new one now in process. Dr. Bales is Assoc. Prof, of English at the U. of Minnesota. □ Basa, Enikő Mólnak. “The Image of Hungarian Poetry in the English-Speaking World,” Paper presented at the First Annual Meeting of the American Hungarian Educators’ Association, Cleveland, Ohio, November 1975. Although Hungarian writers have shown a keen interest in English literature for almost two hundred years, the reverse is less true. Early contacts, dating to Sir Philip Sidney’s comments by way of illustration in The Defense of Posey, were not followed up. Essayists and translators of the 19th century, of whom the most important was John Bowring, failed to give either an accurate idea of Hungarian literature to their English audiences or to arouse more sustained interest. Part of the problem was their dependence on German intermediaries (Rumy,Toldy, Kertbeny),and parton their determination to mold Hungarian literature into the image that had been created by the Romantics in the early part of the 19th century. The influx of Hungarians into both England and the United States after 1850 helped some, but many of the writings (translations and essays), though published in fairly prominent newspapers and magazines, failed to raise any echoes. In the present century, after the initial translations of Loew and Kirkconnell.a period of relative inactivity followed except for such as the writings and essays of Prof. Joseph Remenyi. More recently since the 1950s, this inactivity has been reversed by the appearance of some scholarly and wellwritten books. Few translations, especially of poetry and drama are available, but historical critical essays in important journals are slowly making information on Hungarian literature available. A few carefully edited books (Hungarian Writers and Literature, Five Hungarian Poets) are also important in acquainting the non-Hungarian public with Hungarian literature. Dr. Basa is Lecturer in English at Hood College, MD. □ Body, Paul. “Hungarian Immigrants in North America: A Report on Current Research.” The Immigration History Newsletter 8 (May 1976) 1-6. This survey of the state of immigration research since Emil Lengyel’s comprehensive account, Americans from Hungary (1948), points out the need for a similar work dealing with the (Continued on page 11) NO 11. 1976, HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER 6
