Zsigmond Móricz Book order

Set against the backdrop of interwar Hungary, the story follows the life of Orphalina, an orphaned girl inspired by Erzsébet Litkei, whom the author encountered in 1934. The novel delves into the profound suffering experienced by individuals in a society that suppresses their potential for a better life. Through Orphalina's tragic fate, Zsigmond Móricz explores themes of loss, resilience, and the societal forces that hinder personal agency, making this work both poignant and lyrical.

The novel presents a fresh Hungarian perspective on the theme of adultery, echoing Flaubert's Madame Bovary. Set in the fictional town of Ilosva, it follows the life of a bored teacher's wife and her unaware husband against the backdrop of semi-feudal Hungary. Zsigmond Móricz, writing in 1911, introduces innovative narrative techniques that enhance the exploration of desire and discontent, making this work a significant classic in Hungarian literature.

Be Faithful unto Death is the moving story of a bright and sensitive schoolboy growing up in an old-established boarding school in the city of Debrecen in eastern Hungary. Misi, a dreamer and would-be writer, is falsely accused of stealing a winning lottery ticket. The torments through which he goes – and grows – are superbly described. The novel is brimming with vivid detail from the provincial life that Móricz knew so well and shot through with a sense of the tragic fate of a newly truncated Hungary.