The Noszty Boy's Affair with with Mari Toth

by Kálmán Mikszáth

The Noszty Boy's Affair with Mari Tóth first published in 1907, draws on the novelist's intimate knowledge of country life and petty officialdom. Drawing on a large canvas for social criticism, the story it relates is classical - the young Noszty, a poor member of an upper gentry family, must find himself a rich wife. He sets his sights on the lovely young commoner, Mari Tóth, daughter of a family who, having grown rich in America, have repatri-aled. But in order to pursue her, he must pretend to riches he does not have and attain to a highly respectable title within the county's civil servant hierarchy. The end of the story is far too good to give away.

Genres: Hungarian Literature, Classics, Fiction

415 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1907

About the author

Kálmán Mikszáth Kiscsoltó was a major Hungarian novelist, journalist, and politician.
Mikszáth was born in Sklabiná into a family of the lesser nobility. He studied Law at the University of Budapest from 1866 to 1869, although he did not apply for any exam, and became involved in journalism, writing for many Hungarian newspapers including the Pesti Hírlap.

His early short stories were based on the lives of peasants and artisans, and had little appeal. However, they demonstrated his skill in crafting humorous anecdotes, which would be developed in his later, more popular works. Many of his novels contained social commentary and satire, and towards the end of his life they became increasingly critical of the aristocracy and the burden he believed the latter placed on Hungarian society.

Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed his novel, St. Peter’s Umbrella so much that he visited Mikszáth during his European trip in 1910 solely to express his admiration.[1]

Mikszáth was a member of the Liberal Party, and in 1887 was elected to the National Assembly of Hungary (one of the two top legislatures in Austria-Hungary). Until 1879 he was the representative for the Illyefalva District in Transylvania, and from 1892 until his death he represented the Fogaras District.

He was buried in Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest, along his sons János (1886-1890) and Albert (1889-1921).

Reviews

[Góczán Judit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Büszkeség és balítélet magyarul és létszám-csökkentve.

[Reka O'connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read. 'Delicious' use of the Hungarian language with a story line that's exciting to follow.

[Miriama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Názov knihy mi sprvu evokoval nejaký dramaticko-detektívny prípad alebo niečo podobné. No nie je tomu tak. V starom Rakúsko-Uhorsku žije známa hrdá rodina Nosztyovcov, otec, dcéra a syn. Hlavnou postavou v diele je mladý fičúr František Noszty, mala som s ním morálny problém :D Svet je preňho gombička, je nezodpovedný, prehajdáka i také peniaze čo nemá, rád hrá karty a otočí sa za každou sukňou. V Trenčíne, kde pôsobí ako husársky poručík, si narobí problémy a musí odtiaľ zdrhnúť domov do Maďarska. Zanechá za sebou okrem jedného zlomeného srdca mladej dámy aj kopec dlhov. Tu sa dej začne zaoberať jeho budúcim švagrom Izraelom Kopereczkým - táto časť ma až tak nebavila a musela som s ňou bojovať - ale páčilo sa mi akým prefíkaným spôsobom vymámil komorník Bubeník perly od strážkyň - celkovo je dielo písané humorným štýlom. Ďalej sa už dej vracia späť k Ferovi, potreba získania veľkého obnosu peňazí ho núti, spolu s jeho prešibanou rodinou, vymyslieť podlý plán, kedy úskokmi chce získať mladú, neskúsenú Mariku Tóthovú, ktorá má dostať veľké veno. Chvíľu sa zdá, že sa mu to aj podarí, ale našťastie múdro zasiahne otec Michal. Fajn čítanie.

[Anna Csapo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, satiric picture of the 19th century hungarian society.

[noemi vernyik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ebben a történetben csak Tóth Miksának vannak értelmes gondolatai. Team kiflikirály!!
Noszty egy csóró fuckboy, Marinak remélem a legjobbakat!

[Kis József · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kedves emlék.

[David Chkhenkeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

ეს არის უნგრელი მწერალის, კალმან მიქსათის კიდევ ერთი რომანი სახლწოდებით, უცნაური ქორწინება, სადაც ყმაწვილ კაცს აქორწინებენ გოგონაზე ძლიან უცნაური ხერხით, როცა მას სულ სხვა გოგო უყვარს.