An evening reading recently organised by Moscow?s Foreign Language Library was dedicated to the poems of Attila József. The event, which featured readings of Jószef?s poems by some of Russia?s best-known cultural personalities, attracted more than 300 people.
The event coincided with the translation of Jószef?s volume ?On the Bough of Nothingness?, which has never before been published in Russia. The volume shows Jószef as a metaphysical poet with a tragic streak, far from the image of international proletariat poet promoted in Soviet-era Russia, Ákos Szilágyi writes in the book?s preface.
Another book by a Hungarian author, a collection of essays by György Lukács called ?The Soul and the Shape?, was praised in the latest literary supplement of daily Nezavisimaja Gazeta. The book was published as part of the Hungarian Cultural Season in Russia by LogosAltera.
The Lukács book was the 25th book by a Hungarian author to be published in Hungary as part of the Hungarian Cultural Season in Russia. More books by Hungarian authors have been published in Russia during the 18-month season than in the preceding 15 years, according to historian Gyula Szvák, who heads the Cultural Season?s board.
On April 15, Moscow?s biggest bookshop, the Dom Knigi, will launch Hungarian author Aliz Mosonyi's ?Budapest Tales and Shop Tales?, which has been published under the prestigious Vremia name.
