The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1985 (12. évfolyam, 1-11. szám)
1985-01-01 / 1. szám
BOOK REVIEW — by — Harry G. Ladanye TIRANT LO BLANC Joanot Martorell & Marti Joan de Galba translated by David H. Rosenthal/Schocken Books, N.Y. 1984 $21.95 624pp. TIRANT LO BLANC, written in 1490, is a huge, sprawling tale of knights, ladies, warfare, sieges, tournaments, sex and assorted violence, appearing for the first time in English. What is particularly fascinating for us in this work - declared by no less an authority than Cervantes himself to be “the best book of its kind in the world’’ - is the astonishing resemblance of the central character and hero to Hungary’s greatest paladin, Janos Hunyadi. And since Hunyadi died in 1456, after defeating the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Belgrade, it is perfectly logical to assume that the author of TIRANT, himself a “fighting knight,” used the great Hungarian as a model. But this novel is much more than a mere linking together of a series of military adventures and romantic episodes. It is almost a handbook of knightly and coultly behaviour. It spells out the duties and obligations of a true knight; it outlines quite specifically the proper conduct of a proper lady of the Middle Ages. It gives the modern reader a close look at the everyday existence of nobleman, lord, Emperor and peasant. And it parallels in some measure the extensive traveling through Europe and the Near East done by Hunyadi. TIRANT is basically the story of the almost unceasing wars fought during the Fifteenth Century between the powers of Western Europe and the Ottoman Turks; between Christianity and Islam. It concentrates on the campaigns within the Byzantine Empire and the siege of Constantinople. And the tale ends, after Tirant's mightiest victory, with the death of the hero - from a dread but unknown disease - after the assurance that Europe would have a period free from invasion January, 1985 lasting one hundred and one years. After the death of Hunyadi, Europe was free from the threat of the Ottomans for a time of roughly seventy years. But more than battles and campaigns, TIRANT is an account of the wooing by Tirant of the increadibly beautiful Carmesina, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor. This lovely lady, although smitten by the great warrior, plays the game of love according to the rule of chivalry. She does much swooning, much pining - and really much rejecting of her knight’s ardor and desire. However, aided by one of the Princess’ ladies, aptly named Pleasure-of-my-Life, Tirant is able to win Carmesina’s love and hand in marriage. One of Tirant’s foes - because she herself is madly in love with the hero- is named Easygoing Widow. And the names of the characters readily sum up their personalities and motivations. In sum TIRANT LO BLANC is a magnificant spectacle, permitting a huge world of intrigue, romance and action to swirl around the adventures of one mightly hero who, just as did his model, Janos Hunyadi, disappears from the scene when his task seems accomplished- the ridding of the Empire of one of its greatest menaces and the securing of peace for the realm. & By ANTHONY KOMJÁTHY $20.00 By TIBOR E. BARATH $15.00 ATTHALSMOflTSfTB THE LAST RATTU KÄ SlSTmiEffSONMN By ATTILA SIMONTSITS $3.100 i By STLRHKN SISA $25.00 THE BQOK BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM BETHLEN PRESS 1. -TEXT BOOKS SERIES NO. I. and II. $1.50 plus 35« postage—each. 2. -OUR HUNGARIAN HERITAGE—Albert Wass, $2.00 plus 35« postage. 3. -MAGYAR ÖRÖKSÉGÜNK—Albert Wass, $2.00 plus 35« postage. 4. -LOUIS KOSSUTH “THE NATION’S GUEST”Bibliography of Kossuth’s visit to U.S.A.: Joseph Széplaki - $5.00 plus 75« postage. 5. —“ACACIAS”—HUNGARIANS IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY- Leslie Könnyű, $4.00 plus 75« postage. 6. -CONDENSED GEOGRAPHY OF HUNGARY:Leslie Könnyű, Soft cover. $3.75 including postage. 7. -FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH-HIVEN MINDHALÁLIG: Life history of Col. Michael Kovats. This book is single bound two language edition:—László L. Eszenyi, $5.00 plus 75« postage. 8. -TRANSYLVANIA: THE HUNGARIAN MINORITY IN RUMANIA—Julia Nanay, $5.00 plus 75« postage. 9. -A CONDENSED GEOGRAPHY OF HUNGARY. 80 pages with maps and pictures.—Leslie Konnyu. Soft cover. $3.75 including postage. HUNGARIAN COOK BOOK in I nglish-Atiractive Covers $3.50 - including Postage ORDER THESE BOOKS TODAY-BESTSELLER HISTORICAL BOOKS Bethlen Press. Inc. - P.O. Box 637, Ligonier. PA 15658, U.S.A. Page 1 5
