"The
Lost Rider: A Bilingual Anthology" published by Corvina, is a decent selection
of major Hungarian poetry. Chronologically presented by the year the poet was
born, dating from Bálint Balassi (1554) to István Kormos (1923),
readers are treated to a cross-section sampling of some of the greatest poets
and poetry.
The
left page in each spread in Hungarian. The right is in English. The editors have
used this layout even for the table of contents, with lists each poet, the years
he lived, and the poems of his which are included.
Enjoy
now taste of what's here, with the first stanza from Endre Ady's poem "Párisban
Jáer Az Õsz" (Autumn Appeared in Paris):
Párisban
tegnap beszökött az Õsz.
Szent Mihály útján
neszetelen,
Kánikulában, halk lombok alartt
S találkozott
velem.
Autumn
appears in Paris yesterday.
Silent down St. Michel its swift advance,
In
stifling heat under unmoving branches
We met as if by chance.
Poets
included:
Balassi, Zrínyi, Faludi, Batsányi, Fazekas, Vitéz,
Berzsenyi, Kölcsey, Vörösmarty, Arany, Petõfi, Vajda, Kiss,
Reviczky, Ady, Somlyó, Babits, Juhász, Szép, Kosztolányi,
Tóth, Kassák, Füst, Sárközi, Szabó, Illyés,
József, Dsida, Radnóti, Vas, Kálnoky, Weöres, Jékely,
Csanádi, Pilinszky, Nagy, Kormos.
In
all, 23 translators are credited. Occasionally, the English comes off less poetically
as a result, having that translated sound to it. Rhyme schemes are kept dutifully,
as is line breakage. In doing so, the meter is sometimes clunky or forced. As
can happen with so many translators, both British and American English usage occurs
throughout the anthology.
George
Szirtes, perhaps best known for his English translation of "Anna Edes"
by Dezsõ Kosztolányi, dominates the number of translations.
Missing,
and therefore not as useful in an academic setting, are an introduction, basic
biographies, and essays discussing themes and issues. These poets deserve the
kind of work W. W. Norton publishes through its anthologies and critical editions.
As
a nice cultural touch, Corvina typeset the volume in the very readable Janson
typeface, which was designed in the 17th century by Hungarian Miklós Tótfalusi
Kis (previously attributed to Anton Janson).
An
update is necessary as well. Most of the poets wrote long before the infection
of Communism, but an update would allow the presentation of poets no longer shackled
in their ability to speak freely.
I
received mine as a gift purchased very inexpensively in Hungary, so keep your
eyes open for a good price.
I
fully recommend "The Lost Rider: A Bilingual Anthology."
Anthony
Trendl
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