a new book exploring the country through
its hidden stories and voices

Narratives of Hungary is a collection of personal essays, articles and interviews exploring various aspects of living in Hungary.
This edition is a companion to Narratives of Budapest (released in 2024), an overview of the independent cultural and artistic scene of Hungary’s capital city. With Narratives of Hungary, we focus on the entire country, seeking out the voices, places, and traditions that make Hungary so distinctive.

Among the characters of the book: healers and witches, foresters, naturists, and travelers, as well as poets, writers, and artists living outside of Budapest.
Our journey has taken us across the country—from Ózd to Pécs, from Berettyóújfalu to Veszprém, from Mohács to Szentrendre.

Rather than offering a traditional guide, Narratives of Hungary presents the country through a collection of personal stories, cultural observations, and lesser known histories. The book brings together a diverse range of characters, including healers and witches, naturists, foresters, road travelers, paprika producers, busós, singers of magyar nóta, interview with the Booker prize winner David Szalay, as well as historical figures such as the Angel Makers of Nagyrév.

The stories move through childhood memories, forgotten monuments, cultural hubs, forests and lakes, abandoned industrial spaces, small towns, and evolving traditions— capturing both the past and present of Hungary’s cultural identity.