The present volume contains almost eight centuries of Hungarian poetry in English translation, from 1230 to the present.
   Hungary's poetry is among of the world's greatest, both in terms of content and diction, and as a historical mirror of a nation's consciousness. Translating it can be a daunting task. The volume starts with folk poetry and continues with medieval poetry, showing the transition from Asian shamanism to Latin-inspired Christianity. The birth of Hungarian literature coincides with the Age of the Reformation and the Turkish wars. Three great poets stand out in the 15th and the 16th century, Janus Pannonius who wrote in Latin, Miklós Zrínyi, and Bálint Balassi, an equal of Sir Philip Sydney, Ronsard and DuBellay.
   The 18th century starts with 'Kuruc' poetry; these were the freedom fighters of Prince Rákóczi. The 18th century and the Enlightenment produced major poets in the figures of Kölcsey, Berzsenyi and Csokonai, while the 19th century's classical triumvirate of Vörösmarty, Petőfi and Arany put Hungarian poetry on a par with Germany, France, Italy, Spain, England and Russia. Hungarian poetry peaked during the 20th century giving world literature poets such as Ady, Babits, Kosztolányi, Tóth, (>>>) József, Illyés, Radnóti, Sinka, Szabó, Vas, Juhász, Nagy, Nemes Nagy, Pilinszky, Weöres, Határ, Faludy and Kányádi.
   Each period is introduced by a brief discussion and each author is preceded by a one-page biography.
   The volume concludes with a major essay by Hungary's master essayist, László Cs. Szabó, "A Nation and its Poetry."
 This volume is suitable for comparative literature and European civilisation courses in universities as well as forming an essential part of any collection of world literature. It fills a major gap.