The Hungarians: A Thousand Years of Victory in Defeat (Paperback)

The writing of national histories is. . .justified by the erudition and intellectual brilliance of the [author]. To this one must add, as a special attraction, the charm, wit and healthy cynicism of The Hungarians.' 'Glorious, immensely readable' 'A pleasure to read. . . . Mr. Lendvai has done a remarkable job. His book is easily the best history of Hungary in English. . . . What's remarkable is how many extraordinary individuals, admirable and otherwise, we come across in this small nation's history.' 'When Paul Lendvai, the indefatigable observer of Eastern Europe, writes a book, he usually has something exciting to relate. This book is a well-constructed mixture of historical facts, political judgements, and cultural anecdotes.' 'Researched and constructed in a masterly fashion, this should become a standard work on Hungary. . .It reads almost like a historical novel. . .warmly recommended.' 'This brief narrative of Hungarian history, elegantly translated into English, is written with verve, profound insights, and just the right degree of cynicism. It well explains the dilemma of a respectable old state squeezed between more powerful neighbours, the contradiction between individual genius and repeated national failure, and the recurring tragic conflict between the defense of nationhood and messianic nationalism.' '[R]ewarding, entertaining, and well written. . . . [F]ar more substantial than the witty musings to be found, for example, in Luigi Barzini's 'The Italians'. . . . No one who is interested in Hungary should miss reading this book.' 'An outstanding storyteller. [Lendvai] not only presents scientifically based facts and analysis but also tells the reader a story. . .. A compact overview of Hungarian history, a wonderful collection of biographical sketches and a subtle description of the 'Hungarian temperament'.' 'An exhaustive history of the Hungarian people. . . . The author has written a sympathetic account of Hungarian history. Yet the book also exposes the blemishes along with the heroism. . . . For those interested in the history of an art of Europe that has been shrouded in mystery and cliche, it's a helpful handbook.' ‘Paul Lendvai is a sharp-eyed observer of the world around him.’