Original title: Orgia
Title in English: Orgy
Year of publication: 2016
Publisher: Kalligram
Number of pages: 320
Rights sold: English, France, Slovakia, Sweden,
This novel is set in Budapest in the winter of 1944–45, and as such it is related to the history of Hungary, and of the Second World War. Extreme circumstances changed the behavior of many who lived through them, so that their actions were later described — or rather obscured — by terms such as “terrible,” “incomprehensible,” “inexplicable,” and other similarly strong adjectives.
The Arrow Cross seek out individuals not only of Jewish descent; anyone they view as liberals, “English sympathizers” or “humanists,” are considered enemies and therefore prey. One such man is the novel’s main character, the thirty-year-old factory owner, Renner. In addition to employing and concealing many Jews in his factory, both his wife and lover are of Jewish descent. He is a successful, fearless man: the Arrow Cross have plenty of reasons to kill him. But instead of a swift execution, they torture and humiliate him even longer than usual, subsequently forcing him to assist them. The novel focuses on Renner, station to station. Readers follow events through his progressively hazier point-of-view; in addition, the combined voice of the Arrow Cross also speaks by way of the barbarian horde reincarnated in the modern big city.
Full English text available
Original title: Ólomszív
Title in English: Heart of Lead
Year of publication: 2024
Publisher: Kalligram
Number of pages: 216
The subtitle tells us that this book is the twin novel of Orgy. The same historical background, the same district of Budapest, the same events form the framework of the new story. But this time Gábor Zoltán sees this dark period of our history through the eyes of a child, and his lead soldier, Ólom Pál (Paul Lead). The toy is the real protagonist of the story, surviving its first master, to witness the end of the war and of the post-war period of this tragic 20th century, where justice, sincerity and honesty are rare guests.