Description
Madách Imre: The Tragedy of Man (7th Edition) | English Translation by George Szirtes
Product Information
ISBN: 9789631365528 / 978-9631365528
Format: Paperback (Flapped Card Cover)
Pages: 272
Dimensions: 160 x 238 x 21 mm
Weight: 450g
Publication Year: 2018
Language: English (Translated from Hungarian)
Genre: Classic Hungarian Drama / Philosophical Literature
Illustrations: Mihály Zichy's original drawings
Foreword: George F. Cushing
Printed in: Hungary
Overview
This definitive English translation by award-winning poet George Szirtes brings Hungary's greatest philosophical drama to global readers. First published in 1861, The Tragedy of Man is a sweeping epic that explores humanity's existential struggles through:
- 15 visionary scenes spanning from Eden to a dystopian future
- Historical reincarnations of Adam as Pharaoh, Miltiades, Kepler, and Danton
- Timeless debates between Adam (human aspiration), Eve (hope), and Lucifer (cynicism)
Comparable to Faust and Paradise Lost, Madách's masterpiece confronts free will, suffering, and the paradox of progress. This edition features:
- Critical foreword contextualizing Hungary's 19th-century literary renaissance
- Scene summaries clarifying each historical epoch
- Zichy Mihály's iconic 1883 illustrations
Key Themes:
✔ The cost of knowledge
✔ Cyclical nature of history
✔ Feminist reinterpretations of Eve
✔ Utopianism vs. nihilism
Scene Sequence & Historical Settings
| Scene | Era/Setting | Adam's Role |
|---|---|---|
1 | Heaven (Creation) | The First Man
4 | Egypt (2650 BCE) | Pharaoh Djoser
5 | Athens (489 BCE) | General Miltiades
7 | Constantinople (1096) | Crusader Tancred
9 | Paris (1793) | Revolutionary Danton
12 | Communist Phalanstery (Future) | Dissident Chemist
14 | Ice Age (~6000 CE) | Dying Elder
About the Translator
George Szirtes (b. 1948) is a Griffin Poetry Prize-winning British-Hungarian poet. His translation preserves Madách's:
- Hexameter verse in key soliloquies
- Biblical cadences of the Eden scenes
- Satirical edge in Enlightenment-era dialogues
Why This Edition Stands Out
- Accessible Language: Szirtes avoids archaic constructions while maintaining poetic gravitas
- Cultural Notes: Explains Hungarian historical references (e.g., 1848 Revolution subtext)
- Complete Text: Includes often-cut "Space" and "Ice Age" scenes
Perfect For:
- Students of comparative literature
- Philosophy enthusiasts
- Theater directors seeking staging inspiration
Praise & Legacy
"A Hungarian Faust with cosmic ambition... Szirtes' translation finally does justice to Madách's genius." — The Times Literary Supplement
The work has inspired:
- 1984 film The Annunciation (dir. András Jeles)
- 2011 animated adaptation (dir. Marcell Jankovics)
- Operas by Bartók (unfinished) and Emil Petrovics
Hashtags
#MadáchImre #TragedyOfMan #HungarianLiterature #ExistentialDrama #GeorgeSzirtes #PhilosophicalPoetry
