Discover Hungary: A fascinating travel guide for the curious!

Discover Hungary: A fascinating travel guide for the curious!

On December 6, 2024, the eagerly awaited book launch of the anthology “Ungarnreal – Hungary from First Hand” took place at the German-Hungarian Institute for European Cooperation in Budapest. Editor Dr. Irén Rab, cultural historian and founder of the online portal of the same name, presented the 569-page work, which serves as a comprehensive travel guide through Hungarian culture, history and society. Bence Bauer, director of the institute, emphasized the importance of the book in times of increasing estrangement between Hungary and Germany. Around 50 interested people took part in the event, including the presenter Ágnes Horváth from MTVA.

Insights into Hungarian reality

The book presents an extensive collection of 74 articles written by 31 authors covering various perspectives and topics. There is an in-depth examination of Hungarian self-images and images of others, national identity and history up to the present. Rab emphasizes that the volume aims to promote intercultural dialogue by offering insights into the Hungarian landscape and at the same time reflecting political diversity without assigning itself to a particular political view. “We want to create an understanding of the Hungarian reality,” explained Rab. This is particularly important given the often misleading reporting about Hungary in the German media, which is characterized by prejudice. Further book projects are already being planned to cover the topics in more depth.

The publication is seen as a valuable tool to strengthen relations between the two countries. Similar to the online portal “Ungarnreal”, the anthology aims to offer German-speaking readers a well-founded information base and to overcome linguistic and cultural misunderstandings. At the book launch it was also emphasized that both left-wing and conservative voices should be heard in order to ensure a balanced representation of different perspectives. “The book is intended for both conservative and left-liberal readers,” says Rab, emphasizing the connecting element between the two nations.

Overall, “Ungarnreal – Hungary first hand” offers vivid insights into the Hungarian essence and aims to help revive the centuries-old connections between Germany and Hungary. This initiative is seen as a crucial step to promote better understanding of each other and intensify intercultural exchange.

Budapester.hu reported on the book launch

Further details can be found on the website of the German-Hungarian Institute.