A Hungarian Nabob

Mór JókaiProject Gutenberg · United StatesMar 2023

3.9

Word count: 587K words
Chapters: 59

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Hungarian Nabob by Mór JókaiAuthor: Jókai, Mór, 1825-1904,Language: English, Class: PH: Language and Literatures: Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures, Release Date: Apr 3, 2007

Editor's review

This novel is one of the major works by Mór Jókai, a leading nineteenth-century Hungarian writer. Through the rises and falls of a Hungarian magnate, it sketches the social landscape and human manners of an older era. Jókai is known for vivid storytelling and richly staged scenes; the book offers both satire of wealth and status and a gentle scrutiny of human weaknesses, combining narrative appeal with social observation. As a public-domain ebook released free by Project Gutenberg, this English translation helps Chinese readers engage with the Eastern European literary tradition. It suits supplemental reading in nineteenth-century European literature and appeals to those interested in comparative literature or Hungarian history and culture. Read slowly, attending to period attitudes in dialogue and the author's mildly humorous narrative voice; readers unfamiliar with Central European history may first review the social structures around the Austro-Hungarian Empire before entering the plot, which makes the historical resonance easier to appreciate.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century European realist fiction
Readers interested in Hungarian literature and Central European history and culture
Students who need an English public-domain text as supplemental reading for literature courses
General readers curious about stories of old nobility and wealth

Not a good fit for

Contemporary fiction readers who prefer fast-paced plots and strong suspense
Readers with limited English proficiency unwilling to use reference tools
Specialist scholars expecting a systematic study of Hungarian literary history

Reading tips

Read the preface or learn about Jókai's life before the main text to grasp the narrative background.
After each chapter, briefly note character relationships to avoid losing track amid translated names and titles.
Skip unfamiliar historical terms at first and look them up after finishing the chapter to keep reading fluent.
Read alongside contemporary European realist works to appreciate regional narrative styles.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

How difficult is the English, and is it suitable for non-native readers?

This is a nineteenth-century English translation with long sentences and some cultural terms requiring lookup; overall difficulty is moderate to high. Readers with college-level English can finish it with a dictionary; those with weaker English should start with a Chinese introduction or a bilingual edition before moving to the original.

Can I understand the novel without knowing Hungarian history?

Yes, the main plot is understandable. The novel centers on characters' fates and social relations, with history mainly as backdrop. Some knowledge of nineteenth-century Hungarian social classes and noble life helps in understanding motives and the author's satire, but it is not required to follow the story.

Is this a complete novel or an excerpt?

According to Project Gutenberg's release information, this is the English electronic text of the work, a public-domain resource. Whether it is a complete translation should be confirmed by checking the table of contents and chapter structure after opening the file; the materials do not note abridgment, so one should not assume it is an excerpt.

What should I keep in mind when reading a free ebook?

Public-domain ebooks are easy to obtain, but formatting and notes are usually minimal. Use reading software with dictionary lookup and bookmarks, mark titles and place names as you go, and note the source version; for citation, verify against a formal or authoritative edition.

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About the author

Mór Jókai Author · Hungarian · 1825–1904

Mór Jókai (1825–1904) was the most important Hungarian novelist, playwright and revolutionary of the 19th century, and a major representative of Romantic literature. Born in Komárom, he took part in the 1848 Pest uprising and drafted the Twelve Points, and was later elected to parliament. His representative works include A Hungarian Nabob, The Baron's Sons, Black Diamonds and The Golden Man. Jókai's writing depicts Hungarian history and social change on a grand scale, with dramatic plots, vivid characters, romantic colour and national feeling; he is often compared with Dickens and Scott. His output was enormous: 106 of his works are held in this collection, and a hundred-volume collected edition appeared in 1894, evidence of his productivity and influence.