Liber Mortis

by Magda Szabó

Szabó Magda kézírásos hagyatékának talán legbecsesebb része a Liber Mortis (Halottaskönyv) címet viselő, 1982. május 25-étől 1990. február 27-éig vezetett napló.
1982. február 26-án halt meg Szobotka Tibor író, műfordító, irodalomtörténész, az imádott férj, Szabó Magda szemében a mellőzött és legalább posztumusz jóvátételt érdemlő zseni, s a napló – a magára maradt asszony és írótárs rögzített belső monológja – a gyászmunka megrendítő, intim, vallomásos dokumentuma, amely egy már-már mitológiai szerelemnek állít emléket. Szabó Magda hitt a halottak jelenlétében, az e világ és a túlvilág közötti átjárásban, és úgy beszél a naplóban Szobotkához, mintha ő hallaná, még ha nem válaszol is. Újra meg újra felidézi az együtt töltött harmincnégy év szépséges és fájdalmas eseményeit, felejthetetlen pillanatait; újra meg újra kinyilvánítja halálvágyát, létének értelmetlenségét, de ugyanakkor okot is talál a továbbélésre: feladatának tartja a holtában is jelenlévőnek érzett társ életművének gondozását, s ez ad neki erőt a folytatáshoz.

Genres: Fiction

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Magda Szabó was a Hungarian writer, arguably Hungary's foremost female novelist. She also wrote dramas, essays, studies, memories and poetry.

Born in Debrecen, Szabó graduated at the University of Debrecen as a teacher of Latin and of Hungarian. She started working as a teacher in a Calvinist all-girl school in Debrecen and Hódmezővásárhely. Between 1945 and 1949 she was working in the Ministry of Religion and Education. She married the writer and translator Tibor Szobotka in 1947.

She began her writing career as a poet, publishing her first book Bárány ("Lamb") in 1947, which was followed by Vissza az emberig ("Back to the Human") in 1949. In 1949 she was awarded the Baumgarten Prize, which was--for political reasons--withdrawn from her on the very day it was given. She was dismissed from the Ministry in the same year.

During the establishment of Stalinist rule from 1949 to 1956, the government did not allow her works to be published. Since her unemployed husband was also stigmatized by the communist regime, she was forced to teach in an elementary school during this period.

Her first novel, Freskó ("Fresco"), written in these years was published in 1958 and achieved overwhelming success among readers. Her most widely read novel, Abigél ("Abigail", 1970), is an adventure story about a schoolgirl boarding in eastern Hungary during the war.

She received several prizes in Hungary, and her works have been published in 42 countries. In 2003, she was the winner of the French literary prize Prix Femina Étranger for the best foreign novel.

Her novel Abigél was popularized through a much-loved television series in 1978. Abigél was also chosen as the sixth most popular novel at the Hungarian version of Big Read. Her three other novels that were in the top 100 are Für Elise , An Old-Fashioned Story , and The Door .

Reviews

[Negan88 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to play a game....

What a fantastic ride. Beware the curse is real, the events will haunt you, and pass it on as soon as possible!!!!

[Tamás Gábor · Rating 4 out of 5]

„…., mert elviselhetetlen nélküled az élet.”
Az életmű sarkalatos része. Több ez, mint egy nagy szerelem története. Úgy gondolom, hogy a Halottas könyv elsősorban azoknak kikerülhetetlenül fontos, akik jól ismerik az íróházaspár életét és munkásságát.
https://gaboolvas.blogspot.com/2019/1...

[Farkas Kinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Szerelmesek napján fogtam neki ennek a könyvek. Azt gondoltam, milyen morbid olvasmányt választottam arra, hogy a szerelmet ünnepeljen. Sosem tévedtem még ekkorát. Faith in love restored <3

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative concept that gets 5 stars for that alone! I love knowing I can follow the journey of Book III!! Read this book, pass it on, follow the rules and don’t believe a thing your mind tells you! Thank you for a fun experience and an unforgettable opportunity! 🤗🤗

[Maria Pfaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megdobbento konyv, es bar szinte az osszes konyvet olvastam, ez megis tudott ujat mondani! Dobbenetes ez a rettenetes, evekig tarto szenvedes amivel Magda kuzdott ferje halala utan.

"Borzaszto hogy folyton varlak. Borzaszto, hogy vagy en haltam meg, es Te elsz, vagy Te haltal meg es en elek, de folyton kergetjuk egymas arnyekat."

[Veroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Úgy hiszem, véleményt formálni nincs jogom.

Naplósorozat. Annyira intim. Annyira bensőséges.

"Jaj, temessék el ezeket a füzeteket velem együtt, mert minek olvassa el más. A Te dolgod. Az enyém."

[Andras Horvath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting glimpse into the psyche of an excellent writer. How small she thought of herself. How dedicated she was to the work of her late husband. All the ails she suffered. I understand why it is appreciated for the unrelenting love she shows on the pages, but I appreciated the behind the scenes of literary work more. Also, just incredibly repetitive with only a few brilliant moments shining through. After reading this, I was slightly surprised that she lived for another 20 years after the last note.

[Blanka · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about the inner thoughts of a widow, who writes her diary in a letter format to her recently dead husband, full of the love she feels for him, strengthened by their 35 years of marriage. It is heartbreaking to read this book, while I could not help but admire their relationship and strength of love. I gave it a rating of two, because it was for me extremely emotionally taxing to read through the close to 600 pages of heartbreak over the loss of one's love of life.

[Melissa Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept is so unique, and the author had put so much thought and effort into pulling it all together, that I hope it is successful.

Being in school full-time has made it difficult for me to read in my spare time... with that said I had this book read in its entirety quicker than any other book I've read recently. It's a quick, easy, read which is exactly what I needed right now.

I can't wait to see where this book goes and how far it travels.

[Yvonne Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't wait to get to the next page and see what was waiting for me.
Do you want to play a game? All you have to do is follow the rules, and you may survive this.Tag your it.
Best concept , really made me feel like part of the story. Thank you to the Author for such an amazing and usual story and experience.
I highly recommend this work.

[Jennifer Willison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book is crazy. I found it on a park bench. I think someone left it for someone to find and become it's next victim. If you find it, do as it says and then ditch it as fast as you can!! Don't even touch it unless you plan to follow the rules! The book will know and something terrible may happen to you if you do not follow the rules. You have been warned!

[Andre Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book had some good points, and was still entertaining. I found the book to be very repetitive and campy. I wish that one of the Individuals who found the book would have been able to destroy it or defeat it. All the stories felt connected and all expressed the same repetitive background. Saying all this it was still a good read.

[Stacy Burns · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made more for 11 year olds....not what I expected.