One Must Also Be Hungarian

by Adam Biro, Catherine Tihanyi (Translator)

The only country in the world with a line in its national anthem as desperate as “this people has already suffered for its past and its future,” Hungary is a nation defined by poverty, despair, and conflict. Its history, of course, took an even darker and more tragic turn during the Holocaust. But the story of the Jews in Hungary is also one of survival, heroism, and even humor—and that is the one acclaimed author Adam Biro sets out to recover in One Must Also Be Hungarian , an inspiring and altogether poignant look back at the lives of his family members over the past two hundred years. 

A Hungarian refugee and celebrated novelist working in Paris, Biro recognizes the enormous sacrifices that his ancestors made to pave the way for his successes and the envious position he occupies as a writer in postwar Europe. Inspired, therefore, to share the story of his family members with his grandson, Biro draws some moving pictures of them witty and whimsical vignettes that convey not only their courageous sides, but also their inner fears, angers, jealousies, and weaknesses—traits that lend an indelible humanity to their portraiture. Spanning the turn of the nineteenth century, two destructive world wars, the dramatic rise of communism, and its equally astonishing fall, the stories here convey a particularly Jewish sense of humor and irony throughout—one that made possible their survival amid such enormous adversity possible. 

Already published to much acclaim in France, One Must Also Be Hungarian is a wry and compulsively readable book that rescues from oblivion the stories of a long-suffering but likewise remarkable and deservedly proud people.

Genres: Hungary, Nonfiction, History

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps one must also be Hungarian to truly understand Hungarian literature. Having read several books over the past eleven weeks from the pen of more than a half dozen different Hungarian authors whose work spans the era from the ebbing of the Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of the nineteenth century to the fall of Communism near the end of the twentieth century I cannot claim to have developed an understanding of the literature or the culture. But I have developed an appreciation for their literature -- both fiction and memoir. Adam Biro's own memoir, One Must Also Be Hungarian, displaying his family and ancestors, and more poetically titled Les Ancetres d'Ulysse in the original French, is a memorable collection of portraits of his family. Each portrait within it is like a snapshot capturing features of personality and character, illuminated by memories and episodes from family history and the author's own experience. His use of family photographs enhances the personal nature of the story by providing images to set beside his elegant but simple prose. While the elan and humor of his family is clearly delineated there remains an overarching melancholy tinged with sadness for those relatives whose lives were ended suddenly, sometimes due to the violence and hatred that swept Europe in the twentieth century. He shares the glories of Hungarians both within and outside of his family that permeate the zeitgeist of their existence. The stories of success as with Uncle Eugene Perlmuth and the tragic life of the artist, Uncle Jozsi, are just two of the portraits that moved me the most. Both the glories and the sadness are conflated to create an overall image that I found -- the humanity of the whole.

[daniella]

Moving this to the top of my list...

[Patsylina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving book. Nostalgic, recreates the time and people that left; a world that exists no more. Beautiful testament for his grandchild.

[Thomas Petri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Biro and I were both born in Hungary, that is all we have in common. Still, I felt as one with him. To be Hungarian seems to be more than education or background. I felt a strong bond with the emotions behind the words. That is the best I can say about what I felt as I read this memoir. The book is "One Must Also Be Hungarian" by Adam Biro

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fantastic story, but the narrative flow was absolutely horrible. I could never tell who or what he was talking about cause he jumped around from one topic to another so frequently.

[Jessica Feinstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly spoilt by typos here and there but still enjoyed it!

[Kevin McAllister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam Biro,the author of One Must Also Be Hungarian left Hungary at the age of 15 during the midst of Hungarian Revolution of 1956 but always remained faithful to his Hungarian heritage. This book is a homage to his family; discussing his parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and even great grandparents. It starts off slowly because he begins with his great grandparents and not knowing them personally the discussion feels sketchy and incomplete. But as the book progresses and we learn about his parents the book at times becomes quite touching. The last chapter covering the demise of his father from the strong intelligent man he greatly admired into a senile and decrepit old man of 95 is especially powerful.

[Sarah Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a book!!!

[Ayelet Waldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is sort of impossible to understand. I feel like I have to reread.