General reference books
General reference books
The latest standard dictionary of the Hungarian language is Magyar értelmező kéziszótár (1972), prepared under the auspices of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The best and most recent bilingual dictionaries are: L. Országh: Angol–magyar nagyszótár, 6th revised ed., 2 vols. (1980), and Magyar–angol szótár, 5th revised ed. (1977).
There is no up-to-date general encyclopaedia in Hungarian. The Encyclopaedia Hungarica is still in the stage of editing. Új magyar lexikon, 6 vols. and supplements (19592, 1972, 1981, several reprints), is both superficial and out of date. Of the older encyclopaedias, Révai nagy lexikona, 21 vols. (1911–35) is still useful.
A useful general guide to Hungary is, F. Erdei, ed. Information Hungary (1968), written by experts. For current biography, M. Fekete: Prominent Hungarians, 3rd revised ed. (1979).
The current dictionary of Hungarian literature, M. Benedek ed. Magyar irodalmi lexikon, 3 vols. (1963–5) is in need of supplement. Hungarian authors are treated in most English and American encyclopaedias, including the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The new edition of Cassell’s Encyclopaedia of Literature, ed. S. H. Steinberg (1973), contains very brief, but scholarly entries by G. F. Cushing.
There are numerous histories of literature; the most exhaustive treatment is provided by J. Pintér: A magyar irodalom története: tudományos rendszerezés, 8 vols. (1930–41), and I. Sőtér ed. A magyar irodalom története, 6 vols. (1964–6; reprint: 1981). The latest work is A magyar irodalom története ed. T. Klaniczay (1982) which has already been translated into French and German. For histories of Hungarian literature in English see Introduction. For pictorial representations see D. Keresztury’s A magyar irodalom képeskönyve (1956; 2nd revised ed., 1981).
For comprehensive biographical treatment of pre–20th–century authors, see J. Szinnyei: Magyar írók élete és munkái, 14 vols. (1891–1914; reprint: 1980–81). Its sequel was produced by P. Gulyás, but only vols. 1–6 (1939–44), covering the letters A–D, were published. The rest of the manuscript is in the possession of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. A useful dictionary of pseudonyms is P. Gulyás: Magyar írói álnév lexikon (1956; reprint: 1978).
Arcanum Newspapers
See what the newspapers have said about this subject in the last 250 years!
Show me
