The new life (2011 summer)

It’s impossible to recount everything that has happened in the recent year. I started to work for Magvető Publishing House ten months ago: this was an incredible and very instructive time, during which I learned a lot, met wonderful people, seen a lot of things about the publishing business that I’ve never seen before. But as time went by I also saw what I would do in a completely different way if I had the opportunity. So after a few weeks of deliberation, brainstorming and anxiety, with my editor-in-chief Bence Sárközy we finally did in the middle of June what we knew would hurt a lot of people, surprise even more people, but will be the best for everyone in the end: we left Magvető and we’re now concentrating on our new projects, setting up a new, independent publishing house and a literary agency to represent contemporary Hungarian authors abroad. In a few weeks time, more – I hope much-much more – details will follow, so stay tuned!

Was in Istanbul 11.24-29, European Writers’ Parliament

Between the 24th and the 29th of November this year, I had the honour of participating in the European Writers’ Parliament in Istanbul, in cadre of the Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010 programme. It was an interesting experience, and an exhilirating visit to a city of 16 million inhabitants which seems to be functioning quite smoothly for it’s proportions, and of course boasts more history and more beauty than probably any other city in the world. (Being some kind of a self-made specialist on Venice, I don’t consider myself unprepared for architectural beauty – but this was something else, believe me.) You can see my photos behind this link. The main result of the meeting was a formation of the Istanbul 2010 Declaration, which you can read behind the link. Other non-touristical benefits of the trip were the aquaintance of the bright and talented writers Hari Kunzru (Britain), Sjón (Iceland) and Jonas Hassen Khemiri (Sweden), just to name a few.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair 10.06-10.09!

I am so thrilled to attend for the first time the Frankfurt Book Fair, especially that I will be there in two very different roles: on one hand, as foreign rights correspondent for Magvető Publishing House (one of the most renowned literary publishing houses in my country), and on the other hand, as a Hungarian writer, on the invitation of the Hungarian National Stand at the Book Fair.

So apart from the innumerable business meetings I will have together with my Editor-in-Chief Bence Sárközy, we will have a round table discussion about World Literature from Central Europe on the 6th of October, 11.15 at the Forum Dialog (H6.1 E913), a reception of the Read Central initiative together with our partners Fraktura (Croatia) and Beletrina (Slovenia) to celebrate our three-years-old collaboration on the 6th of October, 17.30 at the Read Central Stand (H5.0 C907-909), and there will also be some reading and discussion with me about my book Der Boden unter Berlin on the 9th of October, 12.30 at the Hungarian National Stand (H5.0 C902). (Click here to see all Magvető-related programmes!)

Esterházy-review in English at hlo.hu

Péter Esterházy: Not Art
Translated by Judith Sollosy
New York: Ecco, 2010

As the American edition of Péter Esterházy’s book “Semmi művészet” came out, one of my earlier reviews on the book has been translated to English for the page Hungarian Literature Online.

“Living classics face no greater danger than their own status as classics. The real stake and the true challenge in their later career is whether they can rejuvenate compared to their earlier selves. Hungarian examples from the recent years have included Kertész, who seems to have failed, and Nádas who, some claim, blew himself to bits or, as others say, rebuilt himself from nought. Compared to the latter, Esterházy works in smaller steps but nevertheless in his new book he manages to jump over his own shadow, and splendidly at that.”

Read the full article. (See the original Hungarian version here.)

In Berlin 03.08.-03.15. – Exhibition!

I will return to dear Berlin for a week in March, to attend the opening events of the exhibition “Wiederkehr der Landschaft” (Return of Landscape) at the Akademie der Künste, Hanseatenweg. I’ll participate in the “Junge Akademie” section of the exhibition with the project “The Ground Under Berlin” with the Mexican artist Plinio Avila: we’re presenting 70 drawings of Plinio on used Berlin metro tickets which are accompanied with a short story of mine about a young man who recently lost his father, a former Berlin U-bahn driver. We are now working on a neat little booklet which will feature all the drawings and the text in English, German, Spanish and Hungarian (you can see the cover on the side).

There will be a press conference on the 11th of March (thursday) at 11 am when we will be next to our work during the guided tour for the journalists, but the public can also meet us during the “Meet the Artist” event on the 13th of March (saturday) from 1 to 4.30 pm. The opening of the exhibition will take place on the 12th of March (friday) at 7 pm.

In Ljubljana 11.26-11.30

The Slovenian translator and author Brane Mozetič has undertaken a great task when he decided to make an anthology of 75 contemporary gay poets from all over Europe – but he has succeeded! I’m honoured to be participating in his book, and I’m visiting Ljubljana between the 26th and the 30th of November to be there at the book launching press conference and the reading afterwards. It will take place in cadre of the 25th Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (click to see the details of the events) – but what a coincidence: the 25th Slovenian Book Fair is at the same weekend!

In Berlin 07.15-10.15

Spending three months of writer’s residence in Berlin.
See my photostream on Flickr by clicking on the image.

Public reading in German in Berlin

As part of the Young Academy programme of the Berlin Academy of Arts, there will be a public event on the 10th of June, 19.30 pm, in the Clubraum of the Academy headquarters at Hanseatenweg, Berlin.

You can hear poems in German read by the Dutch poet Jan Villem Anker, music by Daniele Ghisi and Annesley Black, and the German translations of my short stories will be read by the actor Martin Vischer (on picture). You can read the stories in advance at the read texts section.

Here is the programme in German: 19.30 Uhr, Hanseatenweg, Clubraum // Jan-Willem Anker liest Gedichte, die unter dem Titel Hungry Fish (Parasitenpresse 2009) erschienen sind. Lesung des deutschsprachigen Textes Tom Schulz. // Gespräch mit Jan-Willem Anker und der Übersetzerin Katrin Konst. // Daniele Ghisi Comment pouvez-vous lire à present? Il fait nuit. für Alt-Saxophon (Christophe Grezes) und Live-Elektronik, 2009, 8,30 Min; Per un secondo o un secolo für Klarinette (Gabriele Rubino) und Stimme (Patrizia Geneletti), 2005, ein Poem von Maurizio Cucchi, 10 Min. // Annesley Black Aorko, für Solo Bratsche (Jessica Rona) und Live-Elektronik, 2009, 13 Min // Mátyás Dunajcsik liest Erzählungen, Lesung des deutschsprachigen Textes Martin Vischer. // Eintritt € 4/2

Story in italian published at Sagarana

My very first publication in Italian! The short story entitled “Tram interior” (Villamosbelső), which is from Flyers’ Handbook, is translated by Andrea Rényi. It can be seen on the homepage of Sagarana, issue 35. Click here to read!