Customer Reviews (3)

Hard to Find, But Worth the Read
Geza Roheim lifts Hungarian and related cultures' mythology from its hiding place, and brings it to light in an academic paper bound as "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)." His approach is scientific and methodical, and his arguments hold throughout.

This hard to find volume, as short as it is, is a valuable research tool for any student of Hungarian literature. Early Hungarian literature was not recorded, and so their mythology is difficult to pinpoint. Unlike the Greeks, and even the North American Indians are abound in material to draw from, but Hungarian mythology is fragmented.

This isn't an anthology, but a connecting of the dots, how similar Hungarian mythology is to Finnish and others, but also how the archetypes of story are just as present as they are in other cultures. It is a mixture of folklore, liguistics and anthropolgy, with occasional looks at psychoanalysis.

Roheim cites as he can from the myths. He explains the symbols, themes and origins. His research is multilingual, as seen in his bibliography. German, Finnish, Hungarian and English sources are listed.

An excellent feature is his appendices of Uralic, Atltaic, and Paleo-Siberian Peoples and Languages; The Hungarian Chronicles [discusses four early historical texts]; and Ugric Ethnic Names. These each shed light on Roheim's thesis.

There are a few good texts out there reviewing and analyzing Hungarian literature after 1600, but few take on the task Roheim has.

I fully recommend "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)" by Geza Roheim.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Hard to Find, But Worth the Read
Geza Roheim lifts Hungarian and related cultures' mythology from its hiding place, and brings it to light in an academic paper bound as "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)." His approach is scientific and methodical, and his arguments hold throughout.

This hard to find volume, as short as it is, is a valuable research tool for any student of Hungarian literature. Early Hungarian literature was not recorded, and so their mythology is difficult to pinpoint. Unlike the Greeks, and even the North American Indianns are abound in material to draw from, but Hungarian mythology is fragmented.

This isn't an anthology, but a connecting of the dots, how similar Hungarian mythology is to Finnish and others, but also how the archetypes of story are just as present as they are in other cultures. It is a mixture of folklore, liguistics and anthropolgy, with occasional looks at psychoanalysis.

Roheim cites as he can from the myths. He explains the symbols, themes and origins. His research is multilingual, as seen in his bibliography. German, Finnish, Hungarian and English sources are listed.

An excellent feature is his appendices of Uralic, Atltaic, and Paleo-Siberuian Peoples and Languages; The Hungarian Chronicles [discusses four early historical texts]; and Ugric Ethnic Names. These each shed light on Roheim's thesis, and

There are a few good texts out there reviewing and analyzing Hungarian literature after 1600, but few take on the task Roheim has.

I fully recommend "Hungarian and Vogul Mythology (American Ethnological Society Monographs, No 23)" by Geza Roheim.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Good source of information
This brief essay, completed by professor Róheim just before his death in 1953, is a good source of information about Hungarian and Vogul material, since there are lengthy transcription from ancient Latin, Russian and Hungarian documents, not avaiable otherwise. (Róheim sustains that the Hungarians are identical in origin with the Vogul in Western Siberia).

However, the analysis of all these material, based on Freud's psychoanalysis, isn't very memorable. Indeed, it is shalow and without interest.

The book has 6 chapters:

I. Hungarian myth and Hungarian history, p. 1
II. The Hungarian origin myth, p. 11
III. The meaning of world-surveyor-man, p. 30
IV. North American parallels of Vogul themes, p. 38
V. Totemism and shamanism, p. 48
VI. Individual "double" - clan "double" - national god, p. 51

After the sixth chapter (p. 69), Róheim summarizes his conclusions:

1. Fragments of ancient Ungric mythology survive under the guise of history in the Hungarian Medieval Chronicles;
2. All these fragments are totemic origins myths;
3. The mythology of the doe, of the Milky Way, and the returning hero god who was also the chief of the migrating birds was the common property of the Hungarian and Vogul tribes;
4. A peculiar feature of the exogamous two-class system of the these tribes was the identity in name of one moiety and the tribe as a whole;
5. Dual-hero myths in this area frequently represent two tribes, or nations, or moieties;
6. The Magyars originate from the Mós moiety of the Vogul;
7. The representative hero of the Mós moiety is Gander-Chief or World-Surveyor-Man, and he is probably identical with the God of the Hungarians;
8. Analysis of the Vogul Gander-Chief reveals that myths are composed of two elements: a) the son in the Oedipus complex, and b) the flight and return of the soul, and the dream origin of the shamanistic flight myths;
9. Ethnic stratification of Gander-Chief: The relation of the Ungric shaman and the North American culture hero;
10. Dream origin of the myhts of the Mylky Way with the primal scene as myth motivation.

(86 pp.) ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Hungarian Fairy Tales, Hungarian Folklorists, Hungarian Mythology, Shamanistic Remnants in Hungarian Folklore, Táltos, Mattie the Goose-Boy, Hunor and Magor, the Gold-Bearded Man, Lidérc, Ignác Kúnos, the Grateful Beasts, Lovely Ilonka, Prince Csaba, Tritill, Litill, and the Birds, Miklós Toldi, World Tree, Uletka and the White Lizard, the Enchanted Cat, Fairyland's Beauty, Hadúr. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 64. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Hungarian mythology includes the myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales and gods of the Hungarians. Many parts of it are thought to be lost, i.e. only some texts remained which can be classified as a myth. However, a significant amount of Hungarian mythology was successfully recovered in the last hundred years. The most important sources are: The World Tree carved on a potThe world is divided into three spheres: the first is the Upper World (Fels világ), the home of the gods; the second is the Middle World (Középs világ) where is the world we know, and finally the underworld (Alsó világ). In the center of the world, a tall tree is standing: the World Tree / Tree of Life / Life Tree (Világfa/Életfa). Its foliage is the Upper World. The Middle World is located at its trunk and the underworld is around its roots. In some stories, the tree has fruits: these are the golden apples. The gods and the good souls live in the Upper World. Gods have the same rank, although the most important figure of them is Isten (meaning 'God' in Hungarian). He controls the world, shapes the fate of humans, observes the Middle World from the sky, and sometimes gives warning by lightning (mennyk). Isten created the world with the help of Ördög ("the devil" Evil). Other gods include: Istenanya ('Mother God'), also known as Boldogasszony ('Blessed Lady'...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=7473077 ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: István Kertész. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 35. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Hungarian mythology includes the myths, legends, folk tales, fairy tales and gods of the Hungarians. Many parts of it are thought to be lost, i.e. only some texts remained which can be classified as a myth. However, a significant amount of Hungarian mythology was successfully recovered in the last hundred years. The most important sources are: The World Tree carved on a potThe world is divided into three spheres: the first is the Upper World (Fels világ), the home of the gods; the second is the Middle World (Középs világ) where is the world we know, and finally the underworld (Alsó világ). In the center of the world, a tall tree is standing: the World Tree / Tree of Life / Life Tree (Világfa/Életfa). Its foliage is the Upper World. The Middle World is located at its trunk and the underworld is around its roots. In some stories, the tree has fruits: these are the golden apples. The gods and the good souls live in the Upper World. Gods have the same rank, although the most important figure of them is Isten (meaning 'God' in Hungarian). He controls the world, shapes the fate of humans, observes the Middle World from the sky, and sometimes gives warning by lightning (mennyk). Isten created the world with the help of Ördög ("the devil" Evil). Other gods include: Istenanya ('Mother God'), also known as Boldogasszony ('Blessed Lady'; later identified with the Virgin Mary), and Hadúr (War Lord or Army Lord). The major celestial bodies, (the Sun and the Moon), are also located in the Upper World. The sky was thought to be a big tent held up by the Tree of Life. There are several holes on it: those are the stars. The Middle World is shared among humans and many mythological creatures, the latter ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=7473077 ... Read more

Product Description
The next day Narcissa got up and dressed, or rather made Forget-me-not dress her as usual; she was not yet tired of all the admiration her beauty always roused whereever she passed, and she still loved as dearly as ever to gaze at her own reflection in the lake, and provoke its inhabitants into songs of praise. On this particular morning she had made herself look lovelier than ever, and she stepped out of her mother's garden, anxiously peering round for the squirrels, who always greeted her approach joyfully, and escorted her to the edge of the lake with many a bow of admiration and envy. ... Read more

Product Description
The twenty-three stories here are an appetizing sampler of the over-10,000 recorded Hungarian folktales collected over the years.Sandwiched between traditional openings and closings are tales full of nimble cleverness.The Hungarian zest for life and courage to tackle even seven-headed dragons is evident throughout.

The cradle of these folktales is the basin of the Carpathian Mountains.They contain historical figures such as King Matthias, and legends about the founding of Hungary and early Mongol raids.Turkish influences from the Ottoman Empire, Gypsy stories, and motifs familiar from many other countries play into the tales as well, reflecting Hungary's geographical position as a meeting and fighting place in East Central Europe.

The author has supplied an introduction and comments to inform each tale with background about Hungary and Hungarians.

A Linnet Book. All ages, xiv, 130p., illus., notes, bibliog. Library binding, 0-208-02505-7, $25.00. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Amazing well-spring of cultural signifgance
Even through the layers of triple translation, thevividness and uniqueness of this Ugric speaking people of the Siberian North bursts forth in these songs, tales and poems. Evidences of the changes in the cultureafter the coming of the Europeans is here, as well as the links to theMagyar culture via a common linguistic heritage. I definately recommend tothose with an interest in Ugrian linguistic heritage of the Magyar peopleof Hungary. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1901.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

Product Description
This noble novel, now translated into English for the first time, was written nearly fifty years ago. On its first appearance, Hungarian critics of every school at once hailed it as a masterpiece. It has maintained its popularity ever since; and now, despite the manifold mutations of literary fashion, in Hungary as elsewhere, has reached the unassailable position of a national classic.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Surprisingly astute
I am new to Jokai, and to Hungarian literature in general, so I read this book with no expectations.It was a pleasant surprise: funny in parts, tragic in parts, well-written throughout.It starts with many disparate little stories, which are gradually woven together to form the main narrative.Jokai is very deft at picturing the time and place, i.e., the culture and norms of early 19th century Hungary; it's like a little window into another world (and a strange world it is).Further, he does it with a jaundiced and observant eye, accurately and vividly depicting characters from all walks of life, while skewering their mores and customs.His description of two ladies going over a prospective guest list, with the more experienced woman giving vignettes of each guest to the younger, was hilarious, almost Jane Austen-esque in its sly social commentary.

Unlike Austen, Jokai was unabashedly romantic.There are affronts to honor, duels, dashing officers, thundering steeds, and pathos a-plenty.LOTS of pathos - if you like a good cry, this book will do it for you.I would have knocked off a half star for it but didn't have the heart.

I have since read several other Jokai books (whatever I could find online), and this seems to be one of his best.Well worth the purchase price, a true classic. ... Read more

Product Description
A study of the Szeklers and their folktales. ... Read more

Product Description
WORKS OF MAURUS JOKAI
HUNGARIAN EDITION

THE NAMELESS CASTLE
Translated from the Hungarian
Under the Author's supervision
By S. E. BOGGS

NEW YORK
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
1898




INTRODUCTION

"TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF MY WORKS


This is not the first occasion upon which it has been my good fortune to
win appreciation and approval for my works from the reading public of
the United States. Up to the present, however, it has often been under
difficulties; for many of my works which have been published in the
English tongue were not translated from the original Hungarian text,
while others, through want of a final perusal, were introduced to the
public marred by numerous faults.

In the present edition we have striven to give the English reading
public a correct translation, for which an authorized text has been
utilized by the Doubleday & McClure Co., who have sole right for
publishing future English translations of my books.

Between the United States and Hungary we discover many common traits:
the same state-creative energy in the predominant people, which finds
expression in constitutional forms, relying upon the love of freedom,
which unites so many different races in one uniform whole; the same
independent institutions; the same ideas in religion, in ethics; the
same respect for women, the same esteem of labor, the same mental
culture; a striving after progress, yet side by side with this a high
respect for traditions; the same poetry of agriculture, the same prose
of industry; rapid progress of both, and in consequence thereof an
impetuous growth of towns...."


....Hungary boasts four great men: Liszt, Munkacsy, Kossuth, and Jokai, who
was the intimate friend of the other three.

NELTJE BLANCHAN.

NEW YORK, JUNE, 1898.




CONTENTS

I CYTHERA'S BRIGADE
IITHE HOME OF ANECDOTE
III THE MISTRESS OF THE CATS
IVSATAN LACZI
V ANGE BARTHELMY
VIDEATH AND NEW LIFE IN THE NAMELESS CASTLE
VII THE HUNGARIAN MILITIA
VIIIKATHARINA OR THEMIRE?
IXSATAN AND DEMON
X CONCLUSION




PART I

CYTHERA'S BRIGADE


CHAPTER I


A snow-storm was raging with such vigor that any one who chanced to be
passing along the silent thoroughfare might well have believed himself
in St. Petersburg instead of in Paris, in the Rue des Ours, a side
street leading into the Avenue St. Martin. The street, never a very busy
one, was now almost deserted, as was also the avenue, as it was yet too
early for vehicles of various sorts to be returning from the theatre.

The street-lamps on the corners had not yet been lighted. In front of
one of those old-fashioned houses which belong to a former Paris a heavy
iron lantern swung, creaking in the wind, and, battling with the
darkness, shed flickering rays of light on the child who, with a faded
red cotton shawl wrapped about her, was cowering in the deep doorway of
the house. From time to time there would emerge from the whirling
snowflakes the dark form of a man clad as a laborer. He would walk
leisurely toward the doorway in which the shivering child was concealed,
but would turn when he came to the circle of light cast on the snowy
pavement by the swinging lantern, and retrace his steps, thus appearing
and disappearing at regular intervals. Surely a singular time and place
for a promenade! The clocks struck ten--the hour which found every
honest dweller within the Quartier St. Martin at home. On this evening,
however, two belated citizens came from somewhere, their hurrying
footsteps noiseless in the deep snow, their approach announced only by
the lantern carried by one of them--an article without which no
respectable citizen at the beginning of the century would have ventured
on the street after nightfall. One of the pedestrians was tall and
broad-shouldered, with a handsome countenance, which bore the impress of
an inflexible determination; a dimple indented his smoothly.... ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Not even a fierce dragon can deter clever Tobias from succeeding in his search for his fortune. ... Read more