Miklós Vámos
Encyclopedia
]
Miklós Vámos originally Tibor Vámos, (born 29 January 1950 in Budapest
) is a Hungarian
writer
, novelist, screenwriter
, translator and talkshow host, who has published 33
books.
He graduated from the Kölcsey Gimnázium French department in 1968. He was a member of the Gerilla rockband between 1966 and 1971. On his first try he was rejected from ELTE art department because of political issues. From 1969 he worked in the university press as a setter. He wrote about this in his novel Borgis. Between 1969 and 1970 he was a soldier
at Kalocsa
. He studied at Faculty of Law University Eötvös Loránd in Budapest
from 1970 to 1974, Ph.D. in Law, 1975.
From 1972 he was the editor of the Jelenlét an arts faculty magazine. His first writings were published in literary journals "Új írás" in 1969.
After his graduation in 1975 he worked at the Objektív Filmstúdió as a dramaturg, until 1992. Between 1988 and 1990 he lived in the USA. He worked at Yale School of Drama, City University of New York. He also was the reporter of The Nation
an American weekly issued newspaper. From 1992 he is the president of the Ab Ovo organization.
Between 1995 and 2003 he worked as a television talkshow host in popular series such as Rögtön, Lehetetlen and 2 ember. From 1997 until 2003 he also worked as the art director of the International Buda Stage.
Since 2005 he is the talkshow host of reports with famous writers and poets at Alexandra's bookhouse.
Its broadcast by the channels Pax and Duna II.
He is also the Hungarian reporter of the Washington Post.
He understands many languages like German, English, French, Spanish, Russian and even Latin.
He has a sister Éva Vámos. From his first marriage with Judit Pataki, he has a daughter Anna Vámos. From his second marriage with Dóra Esze, he has twin boys Péter and Henrik.
saga
, the adventures of twelve generations. Over three hundred years of Hungarian history, and the story of all fathers.
The story
begins in 1706, when the Czuczor printer family, having recently returned to Hungary
from Germany
, is forced to flee again by the violence which ensues after the Habsburg army suppresses the war of Hungarian independence led by Prince Ferenc Rákóczi. They hide out in a cave but are found and all killed, except the youngest boy, Kornél Csillag. After this miraculous survival ( he is fed by a dog while living in the woods), Kornél grows up to become a talented and wealthy man, changing his name to Sternovszky. His son remembers the grandfathers's buried treasure and builds a tower on top of the blown up cave, whilst the next son, István, now called Stern, in order to marry his lover converts to Judaism and becomes a wine merchant. And so the lineage carries on, through the Hungary's Holocaust, its Stalinist terror of the Fifties, and eventually passing to America, where Henryk Csillag is born. He moves to Budapest
, and it is his son who picks up the tale of the book of fathers in 1999, the year of the solar eclipse. Thus path of the lineage of sons is brought into conjunction with heavenly ordained cycle of the son. In chronicling this remarkable dynasty. The book
thrillers and tragicomedies which is shot through with strands of Hungary's history and rich culture, deploying an astonishing battery of literary styles appropriate to the period of each episode.
Translation other languages:
Miklós Vámos originally Tibor Vámos, (born 29 January 1950 in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
) is a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, novelist, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, translator and talkshow host, who has published 33
33
Year 33 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ocella and Sulla...
books.
Biography
His father was Tibor Vámos, and his mother Erzsébet Ribárszky. He used the Tibor name until his 19th birthsday, when he changed it to Miklós.He graduated from the Kölcsey Gimnázium French department in 1968. He was a member of the Gerilla rockband between 1966 and 1971. On his first try he was rejected from ELTE art department because of political issues. From 1969 he worked in the university press as a setter. He wrote about this in his novel Borgis. Between 1969 and 1970 he was a soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
at Kalocsa
Kalocsa
Kalocsa is a town in Bács-Kiskun county, Hungary. It lies 88 miles south of Budapest. It is situated in a marshy but highly productive district, near the left bank of the Danube River. Historically it had greater political and economic importance than at present.Kalocsa is the Episcopal see...
. He studied at Faculty of Law University Eötvös Loránd in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
from 1970 to 1974, Ph.D. in Law, 1975.
From 1972 he was the editor of the Jelenlét an arts faculty magazine. His first writings were published in literary journals "Új írás" in 1969.
After his graduation in 1975 he worked at the Objektív Filmstúdió as a dramaturg, until 1992. Between 1988 and 1990 he lived in the USA. He worked at Yale School of Drama, City University of New York. He also was the reporter of The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
an American weekly issued newspaper. From 1992 he is the president of the Ab Ovo organization.
Between 1995 and 2003 he worked as a television talkshow host in popular series such as Rögtön, Lehetetlen and 2 ember. From 1997 until 2003 he also worked as the art director of the International Buda Stage.
Since 2005 he is the talkshow host of reports with famous writers and poets at Alexandra's bookhouse.
Its broadcast by the channels Pax and Duna II.
He is also the Hungarian reporter of the Washington Post.
He understands many languages like German, English, French, Spanish, Russian and even Latin.
He has a sister Éva Vámos. From his first marriage with Judit Pataki, he has a daughter Anna Vámos. From his second marriage with Dóra Esze, he has twin boys Péter and Henrik.
Career
- 1969- Present: writer of novels.
- 1975-1988, Columnist of the Élet és Irodalom (“Life and Literature”, literary weekly, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
). - 1988-1990, Visiting professor at Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, teaching playwriting and screenwriting. - 1988-1989, Fulbright and CASTA Fellow at Yale University and at City University of New YorkCity University of New YorkThe City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
. - 1990-2003, East European correspondent to The Nation magazine (USA).
- 1995-2003, Host of popular cultural TV talk shows, "Rögtön", "Lehetetlen", "2 ember".
- 2005- Talk show at Alexandra Pódium, "Vámos Klub".
Works
- Borgisz Type, Kozmosz, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, (1976), a novel. Hungarian title: Borgisz. - Me and me, Magvető, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, (1979), a novel. Hungarian title: Én és Én. - Head over Hills, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, (1983), two short novels. Hungarian title: Hanyatt-homlok. - Sing a song, Ab Ovo, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, (1983), a novel. Hungarian title: Zenga zének. - Passionate People, "Szenvedélyes emberek, (1986).
- Protest Song, "Félnóta" a novel, (1986).
- Oy, "Jaj" a novel, (1988).
- The New York-Budapest Subway, A New York-Budapest metró a novel, (1993).
- If I Were a Rock Star, "Ha én Bródy volnék" a novel, (1994).
- Mothers Are Not Chosen by Election, "Anya csak egy van" a novel, (1995).
- The Book of Fathers, "Apák könyve", a novel, (2000).
- Lame Dog, "Sánta kutya", a novel, (2003).
- Márquez and I, "Márkez meg én", a novel, (2004).
- Trips in Erotica (Who the Hell is Goethe?), Utazások Erotikában (Ki a franc az a Goethe?), a novel, (2007).
- Protest Song, "Félnóta" a novel, (2009), new version.
- Pure fire, "Tiszta tűz" a novel, (2010),
- The world of the stars, "Csillagok világa" a novel, (2011),
- The Book of Fathers, new version, 2011. May,
Other Books
- Preface to the ABC's, Előszó az ábécéhez, short stories, (1972).
- She's Thirteenth on the List, Jelenleg tizenharmadik a listán, short stories, (1973).
- Changing, Váltás, short stories, (1977).
- Theodore Orang, Ph.D., Dr. Orángutay Tivadar, a tale, (1980).
- Somebody Else, Valaki más, selected short stories, (1981).
- Three Cheers, Háromszoros vivát, plays and radioplays, (1981).
- The Absent Correspondent Writes, "Ki nem küldött tudósítónk jelenti," selected articles, (1985).
- Play Tennis with Me (I Still Can't Either), Teniszezz velem (én se tudok még), an essay, (1988).
- United Steaks of America, Egybesült Államok, written in English, published at University Press, (1989).
- 135 Impossible Stories, 135 Lehetetlen történet, portraits of actors, writers and artists, (1997).
- Bar, Bár, 31 short stories, (1998).
- The Xenophobe's Guide to the Hungarians, written in English with Matyas Sarkozy. Published by Oval Books, London, (1999). Translated into 14 languages (Hungarian included!)
- Bravo, Hogy volt, memories and portraits, (2005).
His works published in English
- The Xenophobe's Guide to the Hungarians, by Miklós Vámos and Mátyás Sárközi, Oval Books, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, (1999). - The Book Of Fathers, Publisher: Little Braun, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, (2006), Translator: Peter Sherwood. Hungarian languageHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
title: Apák könyve.
The Book Of Fathers
This is a monumental familyFamily
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
saga
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
, the adventures of twelve generations. Over three hundred years of Hungarian history, and the story of all fathers.
The story
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
begins in 1706, when the Czuczor printer family, having recently returned to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, is forced to flee again by the violence which ensues after the Habsburg army suppresses the war of Hungarian independence led by Prince Ferenc Rákóczi. They hide out in a cave but are found and all killed, except the youngest boy, Kornél Csillag. After this miraculous survival ( he is fed by a dog while living in the woods), Kornél grows up to become a talented and wealthy man, changing his name to Sternovszky. His son remembers the grandfathers's buried treasure and builds a tower on top of the blown up cave, whilst the next son, István, now called Stern, in order to marry his lover converts to Judaism and becomes a wine merchant. And so the lineage carries on, through the Hungary's Holocaust, its Stalinist terror of the Fifties, and eventually passing to America, where Henryk Csillag is born. He moves to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, and it is his son who picks up the tale of the book of fathers in 1999, the year of the solar eclipse. Thus path of the lineage of sons is brought into conjunction with heavenly ordained cycle of the son. In chronicling this remarkable dynasty. The book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
thrillers and tragicomedies which is shot through with strands of Hungary's history and rich culture, deploying an astonishing battery of literary styles appropriate to the period of each episode.
Translation other languages:
- Buch der Väter, Random House btb Verlag, DeutschlandDeutschlandDeutschland is the German language word for Germany.Deutschland may also refer to:, a blockade-breaking German cargo submarine used during World War I, first of the 1930s Panzerschiffe , later renamed Lützow; involved in the 1937 Deutschland incident, a steamship wrecked in 1875 and commemorated in...
, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, (2004), translator: Ernő Zeltner. - Il Libro dei Padri Einaudi, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, (2006), translator: Bruno Ventavoli. - Knjiga očeva, Laguna, SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, (2006), translator: Ignjatovic Tóth Mária. - Le Livre Des Peres, Denoël, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, (2007), translator: Joëlle Dufeuilly. - Księga ojców, Albatros, PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, (2008), translator: Sobolewska Elżbieta. - Het Boek der vaders, Contact, Holland, (2008), translator: Frans van Nes.
- The Book of Fathers, Other Press, USA, 2009, translator: Peter SherwoodPeter SherwoodPeter Andrew Sherwood is a British Professor of Linguistics, who was born in Hungary, and left the country with his family after 1956...
,
Films
- Head over Heels, Hanyatt-homlok, (1983), writer. Directed by George Revesz.
- Electric Train, Villanyvonat, (1984), writer. Directed by George Gat. (Award for the Best Script).
- Love, Mother, Csók, Anyu, 1987. Directed by Janos Rozsa. (Award of the Best Film of the Year; Award of the Hungarian Youth Association; Best Acting at the 1990 Jerusalem Film Festival).
- Samba, Szamba, shot in (1995), directed by Robert Koltai.
- Ámbár tanár úr, writers, Róbert Koltai and Miklós Vámos. (1998).
- Aqua by Miklós Vámos novel, (2006), directed by David Spah.
Literary awards
- Award of Critics, (1977).
- Award of the Hungarian Youth Association, (1983).
- József Attila-Award, (one of the most prestigious literary awards in Hungary) (1984).
- Award of the Unions for Life Achievement, (1996).
- Camera Hungaria, (2000).
- Awards of the Hungarian Libraries, (2000).
- Pro Cultura Urbis, (2002).
- Colombus Award, (2003).
- Honors of Merit of the Hungarian Republic, (2004).