April 22, 2008

"Hungary in Central Europe – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"

Austrian and Hungarian Ambassadors Host Lendvai Book Launch

The Hungarian and Austrian Embassies jointly hosted the launching event of the new book by Hungarian-born, Vienna-based journalist and historian Paul Lendvai. His new book titled “One Day That Shook the Communist World: The 1956 Hungarian Uprising and Its Legacy” is published in English by Princeton University Press this month. 

Ambassador Somogyi welcoming the audience and introducing the book

Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Somogyi greeted the audience. He introduced Professor Lendvai’s remarkable life and career from his persecution by Nazi and then Communist authorities in Hungary through his fleeing to Austria in early 1957 to his rise to becoming one’s of Austria’s leading political commentators and journalists.

Ambassador Nowotny greeting the author and speaking on Austrian-Hungarian relations

Austrian Ambassador Eva Nowotny spoke of the author’s prestige as the No.1 expert on Eastern Europe in his chosen land. She described the context in which the 1956 Hungarian revolution affected Austria and her memories about the development of Austrian-Hungarian relations in the years that ensued.
 

Professor Lendvai gave an inspirational presentation

The author of the new book, Paul Lendvai, gave a presentation titled "Hungary in Central Europe – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." He spoke about the 1956 revolution and how the regime that had crushed it later gained popular support through what Lendvai calls the “fatigue” of the Hungarians after their hopes were destroyed. He went on to characterize the regime’s nature at home, that of higher living standards and a more relaxed political atmosphere, and in its relations with the neighbors, many of which looked at Hungarians’ relative freedom and prosperity with envy. Lendvai expressed his conviction that the gravest danger in the Central European region today is nationalism, which often goes hand in hand with economic problems.

Professor Lendvai and Ambassador Somogyi listening to questions from the audience

The book launch attracted full house to the Hungarian Embassy

After the presentation, Professor Lendvai signed copies of his book for the members of the audience. The book launch held at the Hungarian Embassy attracted a crowd of nearly 200 people, including A. Ross Johnson, former President of Radio Free Europe; Per Bang-Jensen, son of late Danish diplomat Povl Bang-Jensen, the champion of the 1956 Hungarian question in the U.N.; Pál Maléter, son of the subsequently executed defense minister of the 1956 revolutionary government; Leslie Megyeri, 1956er and leader of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America; members of the DC Austrian and Hungarian communities; representatives of the U.S. and Hungarian media.
 

Readers lined up to ask the author to sign their copy of the new book - and many brought their old Lendvai volumes...