Eesti kirjandus ungari keeles
Estonian Literature in Hungarian Translation

Summary/Abstract: The article provides a schematic survey of the presence of Estonian literature in Hungary, with special attention to anthologies. Although the Hungarians tend to know Finland better than Estonia, a nice amount of literary translations from Estonian have been published in Hungary, most of them during the recent 50 years or so. The first Hungarians who got interested in Estonia and Estonian literature were linguists. In the interwar period translations became more regular, including, among else, the epic Kalevipoeg, a six-volume series, and an anthology. In the 1940s the contacts as well as translations became sporadic. Another positive change in the number and quality of translations happened only in the 1960s. During the following two dozen years one high-quality book followed another, sampling most different genres. The relatively high proportion of anthologies among the publications enabled the Hungarian reader to gain an ever better idea of Estonian literature. The special issues of literary magazines were also of help. Mention should also be made of folklore translations and the second translation of the epic Kalevipoeg (1985). This was a really lucky coincidence of publishing opportunity and the availability of excellent translators. After a few years’ interruption brought by a change of the political regime the second half of the 1990s mark the beginning of another period of increase in the publication of Hungarian translations of Estonian literature. At the same time a new generation of translators rose to the fore.

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