The Poor Plutocrats

Mór JókaiProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 562K words
Chapters: 57

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. The Poor Plutocrats by Mór Jókai. Author: Jókai, Mór, 1825-1904. Language: English. Class: PH: Language and Literatures: Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures. Release Date: Jun 27, 2006

Editor's review

The Poor Plutocrats is an English translation of a novel by the Hungarian writer Mór Jókai, available as a free eBook from Project Gutenberg. Jókai was a major nineteenth-century Hungarian novelist, known for his rich plotting, vivid characters, and romantic color. The book turns on the mismatch between wealth and status; its title itself suggests an ironic look at "poor" and "rich," and the story typically involves misunderstandings, reversals, and emotional entanglements, making it highly readable. The English translation gives a wider readership access to the Hungarian literary tradition. Reading it offers both the plot pleasures of nineteenth-century European popular narrative and the writer's teasing reflection on social class and attitudes toward money. It suits readers who enjoy classic European fiction and are curious about Central and Eastern European literature; pay attention to the irony in the relationships and the unfolding of the plot.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classic nineteenth-century European fiction
Readers interested in Hungarian and Central and Eastern European literature
Readers who prefer narrative with plot twists and a large cast of characters
Readers who want to encounter Hungarian literature in English

Not a good fit for

Readers who want only modern, fast-paced popular fiction
Readers unwilling to engage with nineteenth-century narrative pacing and style
Researchers who need scholarly annotation and detailed background documentation

Reading tips

First sort out the main character relationships before entering the plot, to avoid confusion from the large cast
Note the contrast in the title between "poor" and "plutocrats" and savor the irony
Read chapter by chapter, briefly reviewing key turns and character motives after each
Consult background material on nineteenth-century Hungarian society to deepen understanding of class issues

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

Is this book the original Hungarian text?

No. This is an English translation, in English, for English-language readers. If you want the flavor of the original, you can look for a Hungarian edition to compare.

What are the characteristics of Jókai's work?

Mór Jókai (1825–1904) was a nineteenth-century Hungarian novelist whose works are often marked by rich plotting, vivid characters, and romantic color, along with observation and satire of social reality.

Do I need to know Hungarian history before reading?

You can read it without systematic historical knowledge. But some basic background on nineteenth-century Hungarian social class and attitudes toward money will help you understand the book's ironic treatment of "poverty" and "plutocrats."

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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.