Der glückliche Mensch

Zsigmond Móricz (1879-1942) devoted his entire literary output to describing the Hungarian rural population. With the protagonist György Jo. in "The Happy Man" he created a prototype of the resilient cottager earning his living day after day in the service of larger landowners. The latter remembers the joys of growing up among blackbirds' nests, arable crops and apple harvests, marked by odd jobs and everyday cornbread with bacon. Although the social conditions in the village are becoming more and more divergent, the richer are grabbing the remaining possessions of the poorer, even by unfair means, and György and his mother have to restrict themselves more and more, he finds a way to live with never-ending joy.Although György and his mother have to limit themselves more and more, he finds the happiness of a simple but true existence with a never-ending sense of humour, even in his busy everyday life and at evening dances with the girls from the neighbourhood. One cannot escape the simple beauty of György's oral narrative while reading. One feels sympathy, wishes that the efforts to achieve a little prosperity will be successful, and fears for success in his adventures. Timea Tankó's powerful translation stays very close to Móricz's unadulterated narrative tone, giving the story a vividness that is bursting with the joy of experience and peasant shrewdness. Despite all the setbacks, one thing is never lost: hope for the next sunrise and another day full of possibilities for new happiness.