20th century Hungarian short stories 1980-2000

The series of anthologies, selected from the Hungarian short story production of the 20th century, reflects the common conviction of the publisher and series editor, Zsófia Szilágyi: the short story and short prose are the leading genres of our literature, the mapping of which can be a renewable adventure. It is the spiritual excitement of this fifth volume to see the decades surrounding the change of regime, to write lesser-known writings from popular authors, and to read masterpieces from lesser-known writers. In what state did our short story literature say goodbye to the 20th century, at the beginning of which the authors of the works, now revered as classics and included in graduation movements, began their careers? As much as the end of the century coveted a novel, the short story survived the omission, and we can say that the fruit of the eighties and nineties shows the most varied overall picture of the genre. Grotesque stories, lyrical short stories, portfolio short stories, fairy-tale fantasies are lined up in this book by a lavish team of authors. Saying goodbye is not easy, writes Zsófia Szilágyi in the last accompanying essay of our five-volume series. It is most worthwhile, as one of the most important heroes of the entire twentieth-century Hungarian literature, Kornél Esti, does when he reaches the end of his special tram ride. I smiled, I got off slowly, he says. And I would just like to add to this: if someone, around 2110, undertakes to come up with a series representing a Hungarian short story of the 21st century, they will definitely have something to choose from when compiling a volume presenting the literature of the turn of the century.