What do you think?
Rate this book
Anna Édes
This long out-of-print novel by Hungarian writer Kosztolanyi (1885-1936) takes place in Budapest just after the end of WW I. The city is occupied by Romanian troops after having undergone two brief social revolutions. The novel focuses on the plight of a young peasant woman who comes to work as a maid for the Vizys, a pathologically self-absorbed middle-class couple who are struggling to maintain their social standing amidst the ever-changing political climate. Pleased with Anna's almost robotic work ethic, Mrs. Vizy becomes obsessed with maintaining her servant's loyalty through psychological manipulation. A metaphor for the inhumanity of Hungary's precarious bourgeoisie, the novel follows Anna's victimization by her employers, her fellow servants and the Vizys' dissolute nephew as she struggles to achieve even the slightest emotional connection. Kosztolanyi's characters are ironic to the point of caricature, except Anna, whose inexplicable simple-mindedness limits the reader's sympathy for her. The novel nevetheless provides fascinating insight into a volatile period in Europe's history, laying bare the barbarism and hypocrisy inherent in all strata of society.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1926
73 people are currently reading
1,689 people want to read
About the author
Dezső Kosztolányi
158books198followersDezső Kosztolányi was a famous Hungarian poet and prose-writer.
Kosztolányi was born in Szabadka (Subotica) in 1885, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but which now lies in northern Serbia. The city serves as a model for the fictional town of Sárszeg, in which he set his novel Skylark as well as The Golden Kite. Kosztolányi studied at the University of Budapest, where he met the poets Mihály Babits and Gyula Juhász, and then for a short time in Vienna before quitting and becoming a journalist--a profession he stayed with for the rest of his life. In 1908, he replaces the poet Endre Ady, who had left for Paris, as a reporter for a Budapest daily. In 1910, his first volume of poems The Complaints of a Poor Little Child brought nationwide success and marked the beginning of a prolific period in which he published a book nearly every year. In 1936, he died from cancer of the palate.
The literary journal Nyugat (Hungarian for "West"), which played an invaluable role in the revitalization of Hungarian literature, was founded in 1908 and Kosztolányi was an early contributor, part of what is often called the "first Nyugat generation", publishing mainly in poetry.
Starting in the 1920s he wrote novels, short stories, and short prose works, including Nero, the Bloody Poet (to the German edition of which Thomas Mann wrote the introduction), Skylark, The Golden Kite and Anna Édes. In 1924 he published a volume of verse harkening back to his early work, entitled The Complaints of the Sad Man.
Kosztolányi also produced literary translations in Hungarian, such as (from English, at least) Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", "The Winter's Tale", Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland", Thornton Wilder's "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", Lord Alfred Douglas' memoirs on Oscar Wilde and Rudyard Kipling's "If�". He was the first authentic translator of Rilke's poetry, and he worked a Hungarian masterpiece after Paul Valéry's "Cimetiere Marin".
Kosztolányi was born in Szabadka (Subotica) in 1885, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but which now lies in northern Serbia. The city serves as a model for the fictional town of Sárszeg, in which he set his novel Skylark as well as The Golden Kite. Kosztolányi studied at the University of Budapest, where he met the poets Mihály Babits and Gyula Juhász, and then for a short time in Vienna before quitting and becoming a journalist--a profession he stayed with for the rest of his life. In 1908, he replaces the poet Endre Ady, who had left for Paris, as a reporter for a Budapest daily. In 1910, his first volume of poems The Complaints of a Poor Little Child brought nationwide success and marked the beginning of a prolific period in which he published a book nearly every year. In 1936, he died from cancer of the palate.
The literary journal Nyugat (Hungarian for "West"), which played an invaluable role in the revitalization of Hungarian literature, was founded in 1908 and Kosztolányi was an early contributor, part of what is often called the "first Nyugat generation", publishing mainly in poetry.
Starting in the 1920s he wrote novels, short stories, and short prose works, including Nero, the Bloody Poet (to the German edition of which Thomas Mann wrote the introduction), Skylark, The Golden Kite and Anna Édes. In 1924 he published a volume of verse harkening back to his early work, entitled The Complaints of the Sad Man.
Kosztolányi also produced literary translations in Hungarian, such as (from English, at least) Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", "The Winter's Tale", Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland", Thornton Wilder's "The Bridge of San Luis Rey", Lord Alfred Douglas' memoirs on Oscar Wilde and Rudyard Kipling's "If�". He was the first authentic translator of Rilke's poetry, and he worked a Hungarian masterpiece after Paul Valéry's "Cimetiere Marin".
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
March 25, 2025
The author is full of wicked sarcasm�
The Reds have just lost and Béla Kun flees the country in an aeroplane�
Old ways are restored and a new maid is found� The old one is sacked and Anna Édes is hired�
Masters and servants� She is perfect� But to the masters there is no such thing as an ideal servant� She is being used� Tension grows� An explosion is inevitable�
There always will be those who are above and those who are under.
The Reds have just lost and Béla Kun flees the country in an aeroplane�
He was pale and unshaven as usual. He grinned at those below and gave an occasional shabby and sardonic wave of farewell.
His pockets were stuffed with sweet pastry. He carried jewels, relics of the church and precious stones that had once belonged to well-disposed and generous aristocratic women.
Old ways are restored and a new maid is found� The old one is sacked and Anna Édes is hired�
Confusedly she shifted from foot to foot. From the moment she had entered the room she felt sick: indeed she felt so unwell she feared she might faint. There was a vaguely foul smell about the place she didn’t recognize, something like the interior of a chemist’s shop, a sharp cold smell which invaded her senses and disturbed her stomach.
Masters and servants� She is perfect� But to the masters there is no such thing as an ideal servant� She is being used� Tension grows� An explosion is inevitable�
She was like an animal that lives in the eternal present, an unfed dog who doesn’t quite know what ails it and yet keeps wandering back to its empty bowl, sniffs at the rim, and, seeing it is empty, retreats dejected to its kennel, casting the occasional look back.
There always will be those who are above and those who are under.
February 5, 2024
Pudiera ser que Don Miguel Delibes se inspirara en esta novela para escribir «Los santos inocentes», así son de parecidos los fondos de ambas novelas, aunque ni los personajes ni el momento histórico tengan nada que ver, y, comparándolas, creo que la del escritor español es muy superior en todos los aspectos.
Aquí nos encontramos en la Budapest de principios de siglo, acaba de terminar la PGM y el ambiente político es inestable. Tras la invasión rumana que acabó con el estado comunista recién instalado en Hungría, las clases acomodadas restablecieron sus prerrogativas. Este es el caso de Kornél Vizy, un burócrata que vuelve a su interrumpida carrera política mientras la principal preocupación de su indolente mujer es conseguir una criada honrada y trabajadora. El problema es que no quiere una criada sino una esclava que dedique su vida a servirles sin recibir mucho a cambio. En esto aparece Édes Anna (Dulce Anna), una pobre campesina adolescente que parece ser la sirvienta ideal.
Aquí nos encontramos en la Budapest de principios de siglo, acaba de terminar la PGM y el ambiente político es inestable. Tras la invasión rumana que acabó con el estado comunista recién instalado en Hungría, las clases acomodadas restablecieron sus prerrogativas. Este es el caso de Kornél Vizy, un burócrata que vuelve a su interrumpida carrera política mientras la principal preocupación de su indolente mujer es conseguir una criada honrada y trabajadora. El problema es que no quiere una criada sino una esclava que dedique su vida a servirles sin recibir mucho a cambio. En esto aparece Édes Anna (Dulce Anna), una pobre campesina adolescente que parece ser la sirvienta ideal.
“Se levantaba a las cuatro y media de la mañana y nunca se acostaba antes de haber terminado las faenas del día. No se mostraba insolente con su ama, nunca ponía mala cara.�La relación entre amos y criada es exactamente la misma que se describe en la novela de Delibes. Para los señores, los criados son propiedades de las que pueden disponer para todo, insisto en lo de para todo, y en la forma y momento que deseen, circunstancia de la que se enorgullecen y hasta les sirve de motivo de burla en las veladas que celebraban con sus amistades. Lo entienden así en el convencimiento de que:
“� son otra clase de personas. No son como nosotros. Su estómago es diferente, y también su alma. Son criadas, quieren seguir siéndolo, y así nos exigen que las consideremos�Piensan que nacieron para ello, que sin las órdenes y el trabajo que se les ofrece no sabrían que hacer. Pensamientos que se confirman en la persona de la santa inocente Anna: “El tiempo libre, infinito (un domingo de cada dos, de 4 a 7), le producía un sentimientos de insensatez�. En su desvarío llega a creer que forma parte de la familia (de la que está muy necesitada pues la miseria y necesidades de la suya hacía imposible una relación sana y estrecha), se identifica con ellos, se alegra de sus logros de los que se enorgullece delante de otras criadas.
“Se alegraba de la compra de una nueva cuchara de madera. Llamaba al colador «nuestro colador», al sacacorchos «nuestro sacacorchos», y siempre resultaba más bonito que el de los vecinos.�La novela, la última que escribió el escritor, se lee con suma facilidad, su estilo es sencillo, irónico, y su argumento es intachable, pero no he disfrutado en la medida que su historia podría augurar. Según he podido leer, no está la novela entre lo mejor de sus producción, aunque es de lectura obligatoria en su país y tenida como un clásico de su literatura. Espero que ustedes consigan disfrutarla más.
October 27, 2014
Societies all over the world are broken into hierarchies and social classes. This structure is well-exemplified in a home with servants. How does this relate to the bigger picture of government and politics? Hungarian master author Deszo Kosztolanyi explores this topic in, “Anna Edes�.
On the surface, “Anne Edes� is a novel following Mr. and Mrs. Vizy (a bourgeois couple) who seek out a new maid for their household. Enter: Anna. Anna is the perfect maid, bringing not only cleanliness but also peace to a home during the anxious time after World War I. However, there is much more to the novel.
“Anna Edes� drips with symbolism, metaphors, and an exploration of government tactics, politics, socialism, communism, etc. Although the novel is carried by simple-enough characters; the layers are numerous and detailed. “Anna Edes� is the type of novel that a teacher or professor would assign his/her students to dissect.
Even though Kosztolanyi doesn’t follow the ‘normal� form of a story with an introduction of the characters, a story arc, a climax, and conclusion; “Anna Edes� is still compelling. The characters are comforting and familiar and yet nothing is foreshadowed. Kosztolanyi is a genius at symbolic meanings and meshing together complexity with simplicity. “Anna Edes� simply has that special ‘something� in the classical strain which results in a page turner.
In line with this style, Kosztolanyi’s text/language is beautiful and classy but without being stiff and difficult to understand. It also helps that Anna Edes� contains some humorous moments breaking up the philosophy and resulting in more comfort.
A negative for the general reader is the very strong Hungarian essence within the story. In order for the plot and actions of the character to truly resonate; it is best to be familiar with Hungarian culture or better yet: to be Hungarian. Therefore, “Anna Edes� may be slightly discriminating and not suited for a mass audience appeal (note: I am Hungarian but I can see where there would be issues on the pages for those who are not).
“Anna Edes� is told in an omnipresent voice but doesn’t feel detached or lacking in detail. As the story progresses, the narrator alternates between the viewpoints of each character with each having his/her own qualities and freshness. This is not something every author could “get away with� but Kosztolanyi succeeds. “Anna Edes� is both entertaining and well-written.
The novel does become more story-like approximately half-way through with a more character study focus; building to an unknown climax. This quickens the pace and makes the novel even more readable. The symbolism remains, though, and the reader can continue to extract underlying lessons.
The climax of “Anna Edes� occurs at the end and is unexpected, creative, and well-contrived with high energy but not being overly produced. This climax is perfect to add to the novel and political satire. The final pages of the novel include Kosztolanyi incorporating himself into the pages in order to briefly mention his own opinions of the political landscape. This is slightly odd and somewhat choppy but is also understandable with the direction of “Anna Edes�.
“Anna Edes� is not for everyone as it is a satire and offers manifolds of symbolism versus a traditional story novel. However, this is done gracefully and compellingly with ease. The novel is certainly set in a specific time frame but can be applied to any culture during any period. Although not Kosztolanyi’s best work (in my opinion); “Anna Edes� is recommended for those readers interested in modern classic Eastern European literature which will make one think while reading.
On the surface, “Anne Edes� is a novel following Mr. and Mrs. Vizy (a bourgeois couple) who seek out a new maid for their household. Enter: Anna. Anna is the perfect maid, bringing not only cleanliness but also peace to a home during the anxious time after World War I. However, there is much more to the novel.
“Anna Edes� drips with symbolism, metaphors, and an exploration of government tactics, politics, socialism, communism, etc. Although the novel is carried by simple-enough characters; the layers are numerous and detailed. “Anna Edes� is the type of novel that a teacher or professor would assign his/her students to dissect.
Even though Kosztolanyi doesn’t follow the ‘normal� form of a story with an introduction of the characters, a story arc, a climax, and conclusion; “Anna Edes� is still compelling. The characters are comforting and familiar and yet nothing is foreshadowed. Kosztolanyi is a genius at symbolic meanings and meshing together complexity with simplicity. “Anna Edes� simply has that special ‘something� in the classical strain which results in a page turner.
In line with this style, Kosztolanyi’s text/language is beautiful and classy but without being stiff and difficult to understand. It also helps that Anna Edes� contains some humorous moments breaking up the philosophy and resulting in more comfort.
A negative for the general reader is the very strong Hungarian essence within the story. In order for the plot and actions of the character to truly resonate; it is best to be familiar with Hungarian culture or better yet: to be Hungarian. Therefore, “Anna Edes� may be slightly discriminating and not suited for a mass audience appeal (note: I am Hungarian but I can see where there would be issues on the pages for those who are not).
“Anna Edes� is told in an omnipresent voice but doesn’t feel detached or lacking in detail. As the story progresses, the narrator alternates between the viewpoints of each character with each having his/her own qualities and freshness. This is not something every author could “get away with� but Kosztolanyi succeeds. “Anna Edes� is both entertaining and well-written.
The novel does become more story-like approximately half-way through with a more character study focus; building to an unknown climax. This quickens the pace and makes the novel even more readable. The symbolism remains, though, and the reader can continue to extract underlying lessons.
The climax of “Anna Edes� occurs at the end and is unexpected, creative, and well-contrived with high energy but not being overly produced. This climax is perfect to add to the novel and political satire. The final pages of the novel include Kosztolanyi incorporating himself into the pages in order to briefly mention his own opinions of the political landscape. This is slightly odd and somewhat choppy but is also understandable with the direction of “Anna Edes�.
“Anna Edes� is not for everyone as it is a satire and offers manifolds of symbolism versus a traditional story novel. However, this is done gracefully and compellingly with ease. The novel is certainly set in a specific time frame but can be applied to any culture during any period. Although not Kosztolanyi’s best work (in my opinion); “Anna Edes� is recommended for those readers interested in modern classic Eastern European literature which will make one think while reading.
June 15, 2014
Podseća me na Zolu i Balzaka... :-) Priča od pre jednog veka... Nekako mi je više obećavala... Sve je nekako jasno a i nije jasno... Čudan osećaj na kraju... Dobar prevod Marije Tot Ignjatović... Kod nas je objavila Laguna...
March 21, 2020
Siamo all’indomani della fuga di Bela Kun, in un’Ungheria dilaniata dalla guerra e dalla disgregazione dell’impero austro-ungarico. In un clima politico ancora incerto, la vita in un palazzo del quartiere Krizstina a Buda, riprende a poco a poco i suoi ritmi consueti, lasciando che la Storia continui fuori dalle finestre chiuse. Problema principale della Illustrissima Vizy è trovare la cameriera perfetta, preferibilmente asessuata, onesta, dedita esclusivamente al lavoro e con pochissime pretese.
Così Anna Édes le appare l’incarnazione perfetta dei suoi desideri. Già il nome le sembra di buon auspicio:
“Anna � ripeté la signora Vizy e trovò simpatico questo nome femminile morbido e gentile, perché non aveva mai avuto sinora né una cameriera, né una parente con questo nome, cosa che l’avrebbe turbata assolutamente. � Anna � ripetè il nome e la parola la tranquillizzò, le cadeva addosso come qualcosa di bianco, come la manna.�
Anna è riservata, non parla e non sorride. La casa torna al suo antico splendore e tutto procede al meglio. La tensione esterna è compensata dalla pace ritrovata dentro le mura dell’appartamento.
Solo l’arrivo del nipote degli Illustrissimi sembra smuovere qualcosa. Ma è solo un istante, un piccolo squarcio di gioia nella monotonia della routine. Il giovane va via e si torna al grigiore di prima.
Man mano che il racconto procede, Anna rimane un enigma. Ne intuiamo la tristezza, ma è come se adattandosi alla vita di casa Vizy abbia a poco a poco perso ogni tratto caratterizzante per diventare una perfetta macchina da lavoro.
Poi, all’improvviso, la svolta. Un gesto definitivo che sembrerebbe estraneo alla natura di Anna, che nemmeno Anna sa spiegare e di cui l’autore lascia in sospeso le motivazioni.
La scrittura di Kosztolányi è scorrevole, lucida, feroce e ambigua, come la storia che racconta.
Un autore da conoscere, una letteratura da approfondire. Una scoperta di cui ringrazio nuovamente la casa editrice Anfora.
Così Anna Édes le appare l’incarnazione perfetta dei suoi desideri. Già il nome le sembra di buon auspicio:
“Anna � ripeté la signora Vizy e trovò simpatico questo nome femminile morbido e gentile, perché non aveva mai avuto sinora né una cameriera, né una parente con questo nome, cosa che l’avrebbe turbata assolutamente. � Anna � ripetè il nome e la parola la tranquillizzò, le cadeva addosso come qualcosa di bianco, come la manna.�
Anna è riservata, non parla e non sorride. La casa torna al suo antico splendore e tutto procede al meglio. La tensione esterna è compensata dalla pace ritrovata dentro le mura dell’appartamento.
Solo l’arrivo del nipote degli Illustrissimi sembra smuovere qualcosa. Ma è solo un istante, un piccolo squarcio di gioia nella monotonia della routine. Il giovane va via e si torna al grigiore di prima.
Man mano che il racconto procede, Anna rimane un enigma. Ne intuiamo la tristezza, ma è come se adattandosi alla vita di casa Vizy abbia a poco a poco perso ogni tratto caratterizzante per diventare una perfetta macchina da lavoro.
Poi, all’improvviso, la svolta. Un gesto definitivo che sembrerebbe estraneo alla natura di Anna, che nemmeno Anna sa spiegare e di cui l’autore lascia in sospeso le motivazioni.
La scrittura di Kosztolányi è scorrevole, lucida, feroce e ambigua, come la storia che racconta.
Un autore da conoscere, una letteratura da approfondire. Una scoperta di cui ringrazio nuovamente la casa editrice Anfora.
September 1, 2019
Il romanzo è ambientato nel primo dopoguerra nel 1919 a Budapest.
È la storia di Anna Édes una giovanissima cameriera che viene assunta in una casa di una coppia di borghesi. Viene accolta tra mille sospetti e finalmente con il suo essere pulita (a livello di intenzioni) conquista i due coniugi. È un romanzo che denuncia la cristallizzazione delle classi sociali. Ad Anna è chiesto solo di essere servizievole, onesta, affidabile e di tenere la casa pulita. Non ha importanza se desidera una vita sua, una famiglia sua: il suo unico compito è quello di servire e riverire i coniugi Vizy. Fino a quando non si ribellerrà, inspiegabilmente, a questa sua condizione. E lo farà in modo da lasciare tutti senza parole.
La storia mi ha richiamato alla memoria La porta di Magda Szabò.
È la storia di Anna Édes una giovanissima cameriera che viene assunta in una casa di una coppia di borghesi. Viene accolta tra mille sospetti e finalmente con il suo essere pulita (a livello di intenzioni) conquista i due coniugi. È un romanzo che denuncia la cristallizzazione delle classi sociali. Ad Anna è chiesto solo di essere servizievole, onesta, affidabile e di tenere la casa pulita. Non ha importanza se desidera una vita sua, una famiglia sua: il suo unico compito è quello di servire e riverire i coniugi Vizy. Fino a quando non si ribellerrà, inspiegabilmente, a questa sua condizione. E lo farà in modo da lasciare tutti senza parole.
La storia mi ha richiamato alla memoria La porta di Magda Szabò.
May 4, 2021
This is sort-of a precursor to the genre popularized by British television producers involving household servants and the families that employ them, such as Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey. But this novel, set in early-1900s Hungary, is much more compact. And the class dichotomy in Anna Edes is much more stark, exponentially so. Its setting is different: Compare the multi-generational well established British tradition around domestic service with that of the novel, where the classes are seething as a result of the aftermath of WWI, a Bolshevik takeover in Hungary, and the quick elimination of Bolshevism. Another consideration: Novelists can push uncomfortable themes much further than can television producers aiming at multi-season jackpots.
The employers here are the Vizys: The husband is a civil servant who aspires to move up and the wife is what you’d expect from one who shares her husband’s aspirations and self-image. Mrs. Vizy, early in the novel, decides to fire her maid who is way too uppity for her taste and replaces her with Anna, an innocent who is reputed to be a loyal hard worker. Mrs. Vizy expects a lot from her maid, and Anna really is good at what she does and strives to deliver in full.
So all is well; a great happy domestic situation � or not. Hard to say much more without spoilers, except to point out that the themes here are layered one on top of the other, and actually, could be projected way forward and way beyond World War I and the comings and goings of Bolshevism.
I expect most contemporary readers could easily see themselves, and identify others they know in their lives, on one side or the other of the Vizy/Anna divide. I suggest that as you read, try not to get bogged down in the historical details of post WWI Hungary. If you read with reference to your own experience, you’re likely to wind up getting a lot more out of this than Kosztolanyi (OK, I have to confess, I flipped back and forth many times while typing that in order to try to spell that name! And please don't ever ask me to try to say it aloud.) envisioned. And that, to me, is the essence of a five-star classic � something that reaches beyond its immediate environ to speak to a universal (in time and place) audience.
The employers here are the Vizys: The husband is a civil servant who aspires to move up and the wife is what you’d expect from one who shares her husband’s aspirations and self-image. Mrs. Vizy, early in the novel, decides to fire her maid who is way too uppity for her taste and replaces her with Anna, an innocent who is reputed to be a loyal hard worker. Mrs. Vizy expects a lot from her maid, and Anna really is good at what she does and strives to deliver in full.
So all is well; a great happy domestic situation � or not. Hard to say much more without spoilers, except to point out that the themes here are layered one on top of the other, and actually, could be projected way forward and way beyond World War I and the comings and goings of Bolshevism.
I expect most contemporary readers could easily see themselves, and identify others they know in their lives, on one side or the other of the Vizy/Anna divide. I suggest that as you read, try not to get bogged down in the historical details of post WWI Hungary. If you read with reference to your own experience, you’re likely to wind up getting a lot more out of this than Kosztolanyi (OK, I have to confess, I flipped back and forth many times while typing that in order to try to spell that name! And please don't ever ask me to try to say it aloud.) envisioned. And that, to me, is the essence of a five-star classic � something that reaches beyond its immediate environ to speak to a universal (in time and place) audience.
September 30, 2021
Már kötelező olvasmányként is szerettem, és érettségin is ezt húztam tételként, mégis, számomra is hihetetlen módon szinte teljesen törlődött az agyamból... Ez az újraolvasás így most voltaképpen egy újramegismerés volt. Szégyen, avagy nem, egyszerűen ilyen az emberi agy, úgy tűnik, de semmire sem emlékeztem belőle, azon kívül, hogy Anna egy cseléd volt... a hol is? Vizyéknél... már ez sem ugrott be, csak amint olvasni kezdtem. Bámulatos módon a végkifejlet is teljesen kiesett, sajnos el is hintette valaki, amikor mondtam, hogy újraolvasom, arra nem gondolván, hogy én erre nem emlékszem... A Jancsis eset maradt meg inkább halványan.
Érdekes, hogy ami viszont beugrott, az Moviszter doktor gondolatmenete az emberiségről, és az egyes emberről - szinte újra láttam magam előtt az irodalom tanárnőnket, ahogy kiemelte ezt a részletet.
Mindenesetre bármennyi is derengett emlékképként, mindenképp jó élmény volt újra ringatózni a mondatain - Kosztolányinak olyan írásmódja van, hogy néha tényleg egyenesen bódító, hiába hogy hétköznapi történéseket regél.
Nagyon tetszett a Poket kiadás és az illusztrációk is benne. Hogy a szöveg mennyiben változott így, cenzúra nélkül, nem tudom megítélni, és összehasonlításnak sincs nálam a gimista példányom.
Nem tudnám ma már elemezgetni, és nem is szándékozom - én most csak élvezetből olvastam, és ez felszabadító volt. De azért egyszer elolvasnám a jegyzeteimet, tételemet róla, mi is az, amit nem vettem észre.
Érdekes, hogy ami viszont beugrott, az Moviszter doktor gondolatmenete az emberiségről, és az egyes emberről - szinte újra láttam magam előtt az irodalom tanárnőnket, ahogy kiemelte ezt a részletet.
Mindenesetre bármennyi is derengett emlékképként, mindenképp jó élmény volt újra ringatózni a mondatain - Kosztolányinak olyan írásmódja van, hogy néha tényleg egyenesen bódító, hiába hogy hétköznapi történéseket regél.
Nagyon tetszett a Poket kiadás és az illusztrációk is benne. Hogy a szöveg mennyiben változott így, cenzúra nélkül, nem tudom megítélni, és összehasonlításnak sincs nálam a gimista példányom.
Nem tudnám ma már elemezgetni, és nem is szándékozom - én most csak élvezetből olvastam, és ez felszabadító volt. De azért egyszer elolvasnám a jegyzeteimet, tételemet róla, mi is az, amit nem vettem észre.
March 25, 2021
Anna Édes è un libro che mi ha colpito molto. Era da un po' che non mi capitava di leggere un libro così coinvolgente.
Dezső Kosztolányi ritrae la società ungherese del primo dopoguerra, un periodo storico di incertezza e sfiducia generale. Anna, una ragazza povera, proveniente da una famiglia di contadini, viene assunta come cameriera a casa dei Vizy, una famiglia benestante residente in città. Dopo la guerra, la signora Vizy sostiene sia impossibile trovare delle cameriere affidabili, tutte mangiano troppo, rubano o hanno degli amanti e quando dopo una lunga e difficile ricerca, che Kosztolányi descrive con una punta di ironia, trova Anna, la loro vita cambia. Anna non mangia, non ruba e non ha amanti, vuole solo lavorare. Durante la sua permanenza però succedono diversi eventi che porteranno Anna e la famiglia Vizy ad un finale inaspettato e tragico.
Ho trovato molto interessante il fatto che l’autore parlasse di questo periodo storico attraverso le cameriere. Infatti, durante i ricevimenti a casa dei Vizy, con altri esponenti della classe borghese, l’unico argomento di cui le donne parlano sono le loro serve. Attraverso questi dialoghi nei salotti veniamo a conoscenza della vera considerazione che queste persone hanno delle serve. Esse sono addirittura invidiate per il fatto di non avere cose a cui pensare oltre alla casa e che tutto sommato fanno una bella vita.
Mi ha colpito molto la parte riguardante il pan di spagna. La signora Vizy, nel mezzo di un ricevimento, offre come segno di apprezzamento del pan di spagna ad Anna. Questa lo rifiuta dicendo che non le piace. Da qui nasce la discussione che porta a dire che Anna non vuole mangiare quel cibo i servi hanno un altro tipo di stomaco, e un cibo così prelibato non è adatto a lei.
Un libro che regala uno spaccato davvero interessante sull’Ungheria di quel tempo e sul conflitto tra classi sociali. Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, lo consiglio davvero tanto.
Dezső Kosztolányi ritrae la società ungherese del primo dopoguerra, un periodo storico di incertezza e sfiducia generale. Anna, una ragazza povera, proveniente da una famiglia di contadini, viene assunta come cameriera a casa dei Vizy, una famiglia benestante residente in città. Dopo la guerra, la signora Vizy sostiene sia impossibile trovare delle cameriere affidabili, tutte mangiano troppo, rubano o hanno degli amanti e quando dopo una lunga e difficile ricerca, che Kosztolányi descrive con una punta di ironia, trova Anna, la loro vita cambia. Anna non mangia, non ruba e non ha amanti, vuole solo lavorare. Durante la sua permanenza però succedono diversi eventi che porteranno Anna e la famiglia Vizy ad un finale inaspettato e tragico.
Ho trovato molto interessante il fatto che l’autore parlasse di questo periodo storico attraverso le cameriere. Infatti, durante i ricevimenti a casa dei Vizy, con altri esponenti della classe borghese, l’unico argomento di cui le donne parlano sono le loro serve. Attraverso questi dialoghi nei salotti veniamo a conoscenza della vera considerazione che queste persone hanno delle serve. Esse sono addirittura invidiate per il fatto di non avere cose a cui pensare oltre alla casa e che tutto sommato fanno una bella vita.
Mi ha colpito molto la parte riguardante il pan di spagna. La signora Vizy, nel mezzo di un ricevimento, offre come segno di apprezzamento del pan di spagna ad Anna. Questa lo rifiuta dicendo che non le piace. Da qui nasce la discussione che porta a dire che Anna non vuole mangiare quel cibo i servi hanno un altro tipo di stomaco, e un cibo così prelibato non è adatto a lei.
Un libro che regala uno spaccato davvero interessante sull’Ungheria di quel tempo e sul conflitto tra classi sociali. Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, lo consiglio davvero tanto.
January 20, 2023
"'I don't like humanity, because I have never seen it, because I don't know it. The concept of humanity is perfectly hollow. And take note, councillor: every confidence-trickster is a humanitarian. Those who are greedy, those who would not spare a crust for their own brothers, those who are the worst of scoundrels, they all have a humanitarian ideal. They hang people and murder them, still they are humanitarians. They desecrate their homes, they kick their wives out, they neglect their parents and their children, and what are they? Humanitarians. There's no more comfortable position. It obliges you to nothing. No individual has yet come to me announcing, I am humanity. Humanity requires no food, no clothes, it maintains a decent distance somewhere in the background with a halo round its brow. There is Peter and there is Paul. They are only people. Humanity does not exist.'" (84-85)Having read Skylark (1924) not so long ago, and having been quite blown away by it, I decided to read Anna Édes (1926) next. It's a more overtly political novel, set right after the Bolsheviks lost power in Hungary and moving through the Romanian occupation. The first half of the book or so was entirely compelling and right up to the standards of Skylark. Then, it began to dwindle, moved toward a great shock (which wasn't entirely satisfying), and ended on another unexpected note—with a rather strange metafictional reference to the author. All in all, very much worth reading, if not quite as good as Skylark (which, to be fair, was a rare kind of perfection).
For what it's worth, I'm giving it four stars, because Kosztolányi deserves to be read more widely and this was still a good novel—but, compared to Skylark (and given the somewhat befuddled ending), three stars may be more accurate. Whether or not there is more to life and literature than accuracy I leave for you to decide.
November 26, 2013
Maybe it’s partly that, feeling out of touch with publishing options, I’ve been researching contemporary writing and small presses, but this felt very dated to me. Maybe it was bound to happen eventually, but as I read this I wondered, ‘Am I wasting my time here? Should I read something new?� Not so much (as I’ve said before) to discover any new developments, but to get a broader idea of what literature can be at any one moment. Because Kosztolanyi, let’s face it, isn’t pushing any boundaries. Judging by this and Skylark he’s a gifted, careful, understated mainstream author with easily digestible morals that, compared to a Dostoyevsky or a Hamsun, seem postively antiquated, not lacking humanity (he has that) but complexity. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but why hunt it down when there’s so many examples? Is it just the aura of an unpronounceable name, of Budapest, of the twenties, of his low sales in English � all of which says (spuriously) ‘artist on the fringes�? I’m having little luck with Hungarian authors so far: Krudy’s Sunflower, Kristof’s The Notebook, Krasznahorkai’s Melancholy of Resistance � all 3-stars in my opinion. Szerb’s Journey by Moonlight, 2. Marai’s Embers, 1. Orkeny’s The Toth Family � good but slight. I can’t yet bring myself to open Szabo’s The Door. And Kosztolanyi’s The Bloody Poet may sit on my shelf indefinitely.
Well-executed. Underwhelming.
Well-executed. Underwhelming.
January 13, 2023
Ammetto di conoscere molto poco la letteratura ungherese quindi sono molto contenta di aver in minima parte colmato questa lacuna grazie all'iniziativa dell'editore Ancora che durante il lockdown ha messo a disposizione gratuitamente l'ebook di Anna Edes di Kosztolanyi, un titolo ed un autore che non conoscevo e che altrimenti probabilmente non avrei mai letto.
Anna Edes è una giovane cameriera nell'Ungheria post prima guerra mondiale. Forse la si potrebbe definire la protagonista di questo romanzo ma, secondo me, Anna è il personaggio che rimane (volutamente) più impenetrabile ed enigmatico. Accanto a lei sfilano una schiera di personaggi, soprattutto ricchi borghesi, in fondo non cattivi ma profondamente egoisti, viziati ed imperfetti, così concentrati su se stessi da non rendersi conto che anche la persona che lava il pavimento e stira le camicie è un essere umano tanto quanto loro.
Mi ha sorpreso il tono ironico dei primi capitoli, che non mi aspettavo. Nel complesso però l'atmosfera del romanzo è piuttosto opprimente.
Anna Edes è una giovane cameriera nell'Ungheria post prima guerra mondiale. Forse la si potrebbe definire la protagonista di questo romanzo ma, secondo me, Anna è il personaggio che rimane (volutamente) più impenetrabile ed enigmatico. Accanto a lei sfilano una schiera di personaggi, soprattutto ricchi borghesi, in fondo non cattivi ma profondamente egoisti, viziati ed imperfetti, così concentrati su se stessi da non rendersi conto che anche la persona che lava il pavimento e stira le camicie è un essere umano tanto quanto loro.
Mi ha sorpreso il tono ironico dei primi capitoli, che non mi aspettavo. Nel complesso però l'atmosfera del romanzo è piuttosto opprimente.
May 1, 2021
In dit boek wordt neutraal, bijna afstandelijk verteld hoe het leven van een dienstmeid eruit zag in het begin van de twintigste eeuw in Hongarije. Kommer en kwel, werken van ’s morgens vroeg tot ’s avonds laat, zonder ooit maar één schouderklopje te krijgen. Wel veel gezaag, wantrouwen en achterdocht van de bazin. Om de twee weken enkele uurtjes vrijaf om te gaan wandelen. Hoeveel beter hebben we het nu? Kan tellen als 1 mei-boodschap. Goed tijdsbeeld door een schrijver die zich volgens mij het lot van de onderklasse aantrok. Waar ik het moeilijk mee heb is dat er weinig aandacht aan de psychologie wordt besteed. Hoe komt Anna er in godsnaam bij om te doen wat ze doet? Ze gaat slaafs door het leven, doet wat anderen haar opdragen, zegt na wat anderen zeggen. Dienstmeid zonder stem die op die ene daad na niets van een eigen wil toont.
December 25, 2023
ne adjatok fel a 200. oldal utan , megeri elolvasni!
June 25, 2023
Do we see it coming? No, but when it does ... well, of course the unexplainable seems to make sense. The novel's construction and exposition are faultless.
January 4, 2023
A megszokott házi olvasmányokhoz képest Kosztolányi stílusa lenyűgöző és könnyen olvasható. Egy nap alatt megvoltam vele. Ha az ember nem gondolna a regény mögöttes tartalmára, akkor nem igazán nevezhetnénk zseniálisnak a könyvet. Az elnyomottság, az elfojtott lelki sérelmek és az a sok megaláztatás. Annáért nem állt ki a saját édesapja? És csodálkozunk, hogy Anna azt tette, amit tett?
Sajnálom, hogy nem igazán ismerhettük meg Édes Anna lelki világát, az valószínűleg még magasabb szintre emelné ezt a nem mindennapi történetet. Moviszter, köszönöm, hogy képviseled a jót a könyvben, hogy az igazság párját fogod.
4/5
Kiváncsi vagyok a Pacsirtára!
Sajnálom, hogy nem igazán ismerhettük meg Édes Anna lelki világát, az valószínűleg még magasabb szintre emelné ezt a nem mindennapi történetet. Moviszter, köszönöm, hogy képviseled a jót a könyvben, hogy az igazság párját fogod.
4/5
Kiváncsi vagyok a Pacsirtára!
November 8, 2018
Recensione:
July 26, 2021
Mi è dispiaciuto un po� il finale però tutto sommato è stata una lettura molto scorrevole e coinvolgente.
September 4, 2017
Having loved , I had high expectations for this but on the whole it was disappointing. The book had a couple 'dead zones' for me, tedious sections that made me wonder what I was doing with my reading time. This was alleviated first by the character of the nephew, who adds a little zip to the story even if he turns out to be reprehensible. The end was a shock and felt wrong. Even if understandable politically, it seemed wrong character-wise.
It's also quite difficult for a novelist (or poet) to insert himself by name into a story. When it works it's great but when it fails it really is a spectacular failure and I felt this was the case here. The author appears at the end with a bit of self-praise and it's a turnoff.
It's also quite difficult for a novelist (or poet) to insert himself by name into a story. When it works it's great but when it fails it really is a spectacular failure and I felt this was the case here. The author appears at the end with a bit of self-praise and it's a turnoff.
June 27, 2023
4.5 rounded up, fans of the Brontë sisters will like this one (though perhaps “like� is the wrong word). A bleak, honest accounting of life as a young woman servant in WWI-era Hungary with that classic Eastern European bureaucratic cynicism. Satire balances well with straightforward storytelling about Anna’s ambivalent, often violent intimacies with her employers, and the narrative’s climax is, while unexpected, a welcome departure from the heavily sexual violence/pregnancy-focused tragedies stories about poor women too often become.
I’m glad I picked this one up in a bookstore while in Budapest; the English translation is very solid while leaving the rhythms of the original language intact.
I’m glad I picked this one up in a bookstore while in Budapest; the English translation is very solid while leaving the rhythms of the original language intact.
April 14, 2020
... o dell'annientamento di una vulnerabile anima umana.
May 2, 2018
(...)
When Anna enters the Vizy’s household, she quickly becomes indispensable, especially to Mrs Vizy who finally has someone she can control and command. There is no room for Anna’s own wishes, which becomes clear when the family prevents her marriage to a chimney sweep. Also, the family doesn’t show her any real kindness or gratitude or give any thoughts to her as a person at all. They rather see her as some kind of prize bull and brag about her qualities whenever they can. Anna herself is difficult to understand. You never get to know much about her and her motives. She left her old family, but the book also hints that she liked it there, so why did she? Was it to protect Fiscor, or because of some fatalistic belief she will never be able to decide on her own life and is doomed to be a servant? Also, she decided not to marry the chimney sweep when the Vizy’s pressured her, but we never get to know what Anna’s thought were on either the chimney sweep or the fact she is not going to marry him. Did she love him? The answer to all of those questions remains unknown. But then again, the little space given to her thoughts in the narrative might have been deliberate to show she has no personality as a servant: she serves others and through that, her own self disappears. The book has a very violent ending, which in that line of reasoning shows that people start acting in an inhuman way when they are not treated as humans. But that is my speculation. Very smart writing in my opinion nonetheless.
This book focuses on the relationships between the characters. This is put in the bigger context of post-World War One Hungarian society. There are very few descriptions of the scenery, which is a shame because that’s what I was hoping for. Anna rarely goes out, so there is not much cause to describe the scenery. Still, the psychological side of the story kept me engaged enough to finish the book quickly. Overall, the book is written in a bare-boned style. It is about 300 pages long but still manages to include many different events, spanning a few years in total. Only the necessary details are given, leaving it to the reader to figure out the details, and in that way, to understand the characters. You could read through this quickly because it is written in a style very easy to read. However, you would get more out of the book by reading it slowly, or during a second read. Especially because there were a lot of things that were hard to understand or came unexpectedly to me at first. For example the ending: it was very violent and I did not see it coming at all. However, now I’ve thought about it for a while and wrote this review, it does make more sense. There is a very subtle build-up in this book of the event to come, which I can’t tell you because of spoilers. It is definitely there though. This makes the book almost like a murder mystery where one has to look for clues to identify the culprit, where the mystery goes even deeper because one has to guess what is going to happen! A good book for anyone who likes to delve into the psychology of the characters in a book, and especially to which dark lengths the psyche of a person can go when pushed.
This is part of the review written by me for Bookworms United. Read the full review here:
When Anna enters the Vizy’s household, she quickly becomes indispensable, especially to Mrs Vizy who finally has someone she can control and command. There is no room for Anna’s own wishes, which becomes clear when the family prevents her marriage to a chimney sweep. Also, the family doesn’t show her any real kindness or gratitude or give any thoughts to her as a person at all. They rather see her as some kind of prize bull and brag about her qualities whenever they can. Anna herself is difficult to understand. You never get to know much about her and her motives. She left her old family, but the book also hints that she liked it there, so why did she? Was it to protect Fiscor, or because of some fatalistic belief she will never be able to decide on her own life and is doomed to be a servant? Also, she decided not to marry the chimney sweep when the Vizy’s pressured her, but we never get to know what Anna’s thought were on either the chimney sweep or the fact she is not going to marry him. Did she love him? The answer to all of those questions remains unknown. But then again, the little space given to her thoughts in the narrative might have been deliberate to show she has no personality as a servant: she serves others and through that, her own self disappears. The book has a very violent ending, which in that line of reasoning shows that people start acting in an inhuman way when they are not treated as humans. But that is my speculation. Very smart writing in my opinion nonetheless.
This book focuses on the relationships between the characters. This is put in the bigger context of post-World War One Hungarian society. There are very few descriptions of the scenery, which is a shame because that’s what I was hoping for. Anna rarely goes out, so there is not much cause to describe the scenery. Still, the psychological side of the story kept me engaged enough to finish the book quickly. Overall, the book is written in a bare-boned style. It is about 300 pages long but still manages to include many different events, spanning a few years in total. Only the necessary details are given, leaving it to the reader to figure out the details, and in that way, to understand the characters. You could read through this quickly because it is written in a style very easy to read. However, you would get more out of the book by reading it slowly, or during a second read. Especially because there were a lot of things that were hard to understand or came unexpectedly to me at first. For example the ending: it was very violent and I did not see it coming at all. However, now I’ve thought about it for a while and wrote this review, it does make more sense. There is a very subtle build-up in this book of the event to come, which I can’t tell you because of spoilers. It is definitely there though. This makes the book almost like a murder mystery where one has to look for clues to identify the culprit, where the mystery goes even deeper because one has to guess what is going to happen! A good book for anyone who likes to delve into the psychology of the characters in a book, and especially to which dark lengths the psyche of a person can go when pushed.
This is part of the review written by me for Bookworms United. Read the full review here:
August 3, 2020
Negli ultimi mesi il tema del conflitto di classe è ritornato prepotentemente sul piccolo e grande schermo, anche - e finalmente - in un discorso prevalentemente mainstream: dal premio Oscar a Parasite, a produzioni Netflix come “Il buco�, fino alla crisi mondiale dovuta al Covid-19, che ha esacerbato le già evidenti differenze di classe anche nel nostro Occidente.
Il conflitto di classe è il perno del romanzo “Anna Édes� di Dezső Kosztolányi. Le vicende si aprono sull’Ungheria del 1919, in un periodo storico di violenti passaggi di potere, tra rivoluzioni e controrivoluzioni. In questo momento storico di profonda incertezza, la benestante famiglia dei Vizy è in cerca di una cameriera. Édes in ungherese significa ‘dolce�, e dolce sembra infatti essere Anna, la cameriera che assumeranno e che si rivela presto essere una cameriera formidabile.
Tuttavia Anna non si sente altrettanto a suo agio dai Vizy: attraverso di lei vediamo e origliamo la “pošlost’� gogoliana - la banalità, la volgarità di quella classe borghese che spettegola tra le mura di casa, dove da un lato le donne trascorrono tutto il tempo a parlare male e muovere accuse contro le rispettive cameriere, e gli uomini discutono e difendono la necessità della divisione della società tra servi e signori-padroni. L’intera casa crea repulsione in Anna: i suoi abitanti, persino i miasmi, e il cibo che non riesce a toccare. Dopo l’epilogo di un rapporto che le lascerà addosso un senso di abbandono e tradimento, Anna commetterà un gesto estremo, sperando che possa costituire una via d’uscita.
Lo scrittore non rivela quali siano state le ragioni di Anna che l’hanno spinta a questo gesto,ed è proprio il tacerle che assicura al romanzo un respiro atemporale, rendendolo più che attuale in questo periodo di tumulti sociali e politici: le ragioni non sono importanti,perché nessuno si cura o interessa ai problemi dei repressi. Allora non importa che Anna abbia vissuto nel primo ventennio del Novecento, a Budapest, al crepuscolo del regime comunista nel 1919: la sua storia e sofferenza è universale, e universale è anche la banalità di una classe benestante sempre più lontana e sorda rispetto al resto del popolo.
Il conflitto di classe è il perno del romanzo “Anna Édes� di Dezső Kosztolányi. Le vicende si aprono sull’Ungheria del 1919, in un periodo storico di violenti passaggi di potere, tra rivoluzioni e controrivoluzioni. In questo momento storico di profonda incertezza, la benestante famiglia dei Vizy è in cerca di una cameriera. Édes in ungherese significa ‘dolce�, e dolce sembra infatti essere Anna, la cameriera che assumeranno e che si rivela presto essere una cameriera formidabile.
Tuttavia Anna non si sente altrettanto a suo agio dai Vizy: attraverso di lei vediamo e origliamo la “pošlost’� gogoliana - la banalità, la volgarità di quella classe borghese che spettegola tra le mura di casa, dove da un lato le donne trascorrono tutto il tempo a parlare male e muovere accuse contro le rispettive cameriere, e gli uomini discutono e difendono la necessità della divisione della società tra servi e signori-padroni. L’intera casa crea repulsione in Anna: i suoi abitanti, persino i miasmi, e il cibo che non riesce a toccare. Dopo l’epilogo di un rapporto che le lascerà addosso un senso di abbandono e tradimento, Anna commetterà un gesto estremo, sperando che possa costituire una via d’uscita.
Lo scrittore non rivela quali siano state le ragioni di Anna che l’hanno spinta a questo gesto,ed è proprio il tacerle che assicura al romanzo un respiro atemporale, rendendolo più che attuale in questo periodo di tumulti sociali e politici: le ragioni non sono importanti,perché nessuno si cura o interessa ai problemi dei repressi. Allora non importa che Anna abbia vissuto nel primo ventennio del Novecento, a Budapest, al crepuscolo del regime comunista nel 1919: la sua storia e sofferenza è universale, e universale è anche la banalità di una classe benestante sempre più lontana e sorda rispetto al resto del popolo.
June 19, 2013
una famiglia benestante alla ricerca della domestica perfetta e anna, che sembra avere tutti i requisiti. il mondo borghese, il microcosmo che si crea intorno a un palazzo, a una cerchia ristretta di amici, i pettegolezzi, le voci, la descrizione del lavoro in casa. un omicidio apparentemente inspiegabile, anche. romanzo famosissimo in ungheria- sarcastico, intelligente, a tratti claustrofobico. speriamo venga tradotto presto!
(grazie a gabrilu, che mi ha incuriosito con la sua recensione)
(grazie a gabrilu, che mi ha incuriosito con la sua recensione)
January 5, 2014
Most impressive Hungarian novel I've read since 'Relations'. Very sophisticated narrative, deeply touching, politically and psychologically astute, and playful too! All this in 1926... bit of a Master and Marguerita moment.
July 8, 2024
Kosztolányi egy zseni, csak azt sajnálom, hogy ismertem a történet végét mielőtt olvastam volna...
February 18, 2024
Miiiii
Read
August 27, 2021A történet csupaszon semmi különlegeset nem rejt, de a könyv nem is törekszik a komolyabb cselekményszövésre, helyette Kosztolányi olyan módszeresen és profin ábrázolja karaktereit, hogy nem is érezzük szükségét komplex történetnek. Vizyné messze kiemelkedik mind közül. Úgy képes belopni magát az olvasó szívébe, hogy az legszívesebben kitépné a helyéről, és ekkor is csak enyhén fogalmaztam. Számomra az egyik legjobban ábrázolt szereplő, akivel valaha találkoztam bármilyen fikció berkein belül. Kosztolányi találóan mutatja be őt és a többieket is. Egy-egy tett, néhány szó, egy elröppenő kis gondolat, és máris több oldalas jellemzést írhatnánk róluk.
A végkifejlet kissé zavaros, több gondolkodást igényel, és az események vizsgálatát Anna szemszögéből, akinek gondolatait az író nem mindig közvetíti tisztán, a végkifejlet esetében szinte egyáltalán nem. Ennek ellenére úgy gondolom kielégítő lezárást nyújt a történet, és kiváló húzás volt Kosztolányi részéről, hogy a fordulatot a könyv végén szándékosan homállyal övezte.
A végkifejlet kissé zavaros, több gondolkodást igényel, és az események vizsgálatát Anna szemszögéből, akinek gondolatait az író nem mindig közvetíti tisztán, a végkifejlet esetében szinte egyáltalán nem. Ennek ellenére úgy gondolom kielégítő lezárást nyújt a történet, és kiváló húzás volt Kosztolányi részéről, hogy a fordulatot a könyv végén szándékosan homállyal övezte.
Read
November 19, 2022Despite the subject matter, this novel hides its message until the very end. It is at first glance a sophisticated exercise in social commentary, an exploration of injustice and human weakness. But somehow, at least for me, Kosztolànyi’s conclusions weren’t easy to ascertain.
I’ve wanted to read this for a long time, ever since I heard about Béla Kun and the post WWI Hungarian Soviet Republic. The story is set exclusively in the Krisztina város district of Buda, beneath the castle hill, an area of a foreign city with which I’m extremely well acquainted. Kosztolányi sets the scene with a fictional account of Kun, flying into exile above Krisztina város with his pockets full of stolen goods. No need to ponder about Kosztolànyi’s opinion of Kun.
It’s also the district in which Kosztolányi lived and worked. It’s a bourgeois district, with a triangular park at its centre - the vèrmező (the field of blood). The district was at the centre of the fighting during the siege of 1944 and yet remarkably despite the loss of the Southern Railway Station and presumably a lot of other buildings, it still retains a lot of its original character.
Kun was fleeing the Romanian army and their soldiers provide a back drop to the story up until the arrival of Horthy on his white horse in one of the closing chapters.
The calamities occuring outside the Vizy’s typical polgári lakás (a “citizen’s� or perhaps more accurately “bourgeois appartment� another of those wonderful Hungarianisms with no English equivalent) and the seemingly mundane goings-on inside are skillfully interwoven. But what conclusion should we draw from the contrasting fortunes of the country and its people?
Upon Kun’s departure the házfelügyelő (janitor) and his wife immediately attempt to distance themselves from their publically professed communist sympathies and begin to fear reprisals. Whilst the Vizy’s and the building’s other residents dust off their smart clothes and start to enjoy their social status again.
Enter centre stage sweet little Anna an innocent young girl from the countryside to take up a position as Mrs. Vizy’s maid.
To continue with the theme of powerful Hungarian works of literature, it’s perhaps worth noting that its Kosztolànyi’s subject matter that’s powerful here. But his approach to it is deftly low-key, with an incredibly light touch. Here is the elegant stylist as described by the translator George Szirtes in his introduction.
Kosztolànyi’s concluding chapter is the key to understanding this novel. I think I’ve got it but other people may draw a different conclusion.
I’ve wanted to read this for a long time, ever since I heard about Béla Kun and the post WWI Hungarian Soviet Republic. The story is set exclusively in the Krisztina város district of Buda, beneath the castle hill, an area of a foreign city with which I’m extremely well acquainted. Kosztolányi sets the scene with a fictional account of Kun, flying into exile above Krisztina város with his pockets full of stolen goods. No need to ponder about Kosztolànyi’s opinion of Kun.
It’s also the district in which Kosztolányi lived and worked. It’s a bourgeois district, with a triangular park at its centre - the vèrmező (the field of blood). The district was at the centre of the fighting during the siege of 1944 and yet remarkably despite the loss of the Southern Railway Station and presumably a lot of other buildings, it still retains a lot of its original character.
Kun was fleeing the Romanian army and their soldiers provide a back drop to the story up until the arrival of Horthy on his white horse in one of the closing chapters.
The calamities occuring outside the Vizy’s typical polgári lakás (a “citizen’s� or perhaps more accurately “bourgeois appartment� another of those wonderful Hungarianisms with no English equivalent) and the seemingly mundane goings-on inside are skillfully interwoven. But what conclusion should we draw from the contrasting fortunes of the country and its people?
Upon Kun’s departure the házfelügyelő (janitor) and his wife immediately attempt to distance themselves from their publically professed communist sympathies and begin to fear reprisals. Whilst the Vizy’s and the building’s other residents dust off their smart clothes and start to enjoy their social status again.
Enter centre stage sweet little Anna an innocent young girl from the countryside to take up a position as Mrs. Vizy’s maid.
To continue with the theme of powerful Hungarian works of literature, it’s perhaps worth noting that its Kosztolànyi’s subject matter that’s powerful here. But his approach to it is deftly low-key, with an incredibly light touch. Here is the elegant stylist as described by the translator George Szirtes in his introduction.
Kosztolànyi’s concluding chapter is the key to understanding this novel. I think I’ve got it but other people may draw a different conclusion.
June 18, 2023
Ezt a könyvet még anno @sziakonyv Rékánál láttam, hogy olvassa és már akkor is tetszett, viszont nem volt motivációm, hogy bele is kezdjek. Azonban nemrég kaptunk egy projekt feladatot a suliban, amiben meg kellett interjúvolni Édes Annát. Ekkor már muszájból is, de el kellett kezdenem a könyvet. És milyen jól tettem!
Maga a történet Édes Anna, egy falusi cselédlány egyik Pesti gazdájánál, a Vizy családnál töltött időszakot mutatja be. Annát egy nagyon szorgalmas, tisztelettudó, a “cselédekhez képest� szép lányként ismerjük meg, aki eleinte kicsit visszahúzódó, és fiatalságából eredően kicsit ügyetlen, de hűséges. Kosztolányi ezzel a regénnyel hivatott bemutatni nekünk korában jelen levő cseléd-gazda viszonyokat. Az E/3-as elbeszélés miatt maga a személyisége teljesen máshogy csapódik le nekünk, mintha az ő szemszögéből látnánk az eseményeket. Azért is tetszett a narrálás, mert Anna cselekedetei sokszor kontrasztban voltak az általunk megfigyelhetett viselkedésformájától.
Ez volt az első Kosztolányi regényem, de biztos vagyok benne, hogy nem az utolsó, szóval várom az ajánlásokat, hogy mivel kellene folytatnom! :D
Maga a történet Édes Anna, egy falusi cselédlány egyik Pesti gazdájánál, a Vizy családnál töltött időszakot mutatja be. Annát egy nagyon szorgalmas, tisztelettudó, a “cselédekhez képest� szép lányként ismerjük meg, aki eleinte kicsit visszahúzódó, és fiatalságából eredően kicsit ügyetlen, de hűséges. Kosztolányi ezzel a regénnyel hivatott bemutatni nekünk korában jelen levő cseléd-gazda viszonyokat. Az E/3-as elbeszélés miatt maga a személyisége teljesen máshogy csapódik le nekünk, mintha az ő szemszögéből látnánk az eseményeket. Azért is tetszett a narrálás, mert Anna cselekedetei sokszor kontrasztban voltak az általunk megfigyelhetett viselkedésformájától.
Ez volt az első Kosztolányi regényem, de biztos vagyok benne, hogy nem az utolsó, szóval várom az ajánlásokat, hogy mivel kellene folytatnom! :D
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.