Tranquility (novel) explained

Tranquility
Author:Attila Bartis
Audio Read By:[1]
Title Orig:A nyugalom
Orig Lang Code:hu
Translator:Imre Goldstein
Country:Hungary
Language:Hungarian
Genre:Tragedy
Set In:Budapest during the decline of Communist Hungary
Publisher:Magvető
Pub Date:2001
English Pub Date:September 2008 (Archipelago Books)[2]
Media Type:Print (hardcover)
Pages:326
Awards:Best Translated Book Award (2009)
Isbn:978-963-14-2251-1
Congress:PH3213.B2976 N94 2001

Tranquility (Hungarian: A nyugalom) is a 2001 novel by Attila Bartis, published by Magvető. His second novel, Tranquility is considered Bartis's most famous work. Set in communist-era Budapest, Tranquility is a psychological novel about a writer and his dysfunctional relationship with his mother and two other women, and is noted for its bleak storyline and its vulgar depictions of violence and sexual activity. Tranquility was adapted into film, titled Nyugalom (2008), directed by Róbert Alföldi.[3] Originally published in Hungarian by Magvető, it was later translated into English by Imre Goldstein and published in 2008 by Archipelago Books. It was the first time Bartis's work had been translated into English.[4] Goldstein's translation won the Best Translated Book Award (2009).[5]

As of 2019, Tranquility has been translated into Spanish, Bulgarian, Polish, German, Romanian, Turkish, English, Estonian, Swedish, Czech, Dutch, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic.

Plot

In final years of the communist Hungarian People's Republic, writer Andor Weér–the novel's narrator–lives in dysfunction with his mother, Rebeka Weér. Rebeka is a former celebrated actress who has not left their Budapest apartment in fifteen years. Andor's father was a theatre critic and a former member of the ÁVH secret police who defected to the West after the 1956 revolution. Andor's twin sister, Judit, a talented violinist, fled Hungary fifteen years earlier. This betrayal and Rebeka's inability to lure Judit back to Hungary caused the authorities to deny Rebeka leading stage roles. Rebeka performs a symbolic burial of Judit and refused to go outside of their apartment. Judit committed suicide, but Andor keeps her death a secret and sends letters to Rebeka in her name. Rebeka is a crazed woman who has a strong emotional hold over Andor that verges on Oedipal. He wishes to escape his mother's maniacal control, but worries about leaving her alone. Andor quickly falls in love with Eszter Fehé, a troubled young Romanian woman with a mysterious past. The two met on the Liberty Bridge. Eszter helps Andor type his works and get a publishing deal for his book. The editor of the publisher is an older woman who Andor eventually begins a crude sexual and Oedipal relationship with. He later learns the woman was his father's mistress when his father was an agent of the secret police. Andor's love for Eszter is further complicated by her past. The novel begins with Rebeka's funeral, and progresses through the past with a nonlinear narrative[6] structure.

Reception

Writing in the Winter 2002 edition of World Literature Today, Clara Györgyey praised the novel, writing, "Bartis's synthesizing energy, the way he brings together ancient myths and "soc-real" outrages, archetypal emotions with slick contemporary manipulations, transfigures reason into a waking dream (à la Péter Nádas) or nightmare." She also praised the novel's "deftly evoked mood, the perpetually depressing atmosphere, and the rhythm of the poignant metaphors." However, she criticized the novel's "several unwarranted cliches, inadequate explanations, incomplete thoughts, surplus inerstion, and even minor sophomoric idiocies," but concluded that these "stylistic gimmicks" do not reduce the novel's "overall impact."[7]

Complete Review called the novel "an interesting and very vivid psychological study, with some impressive scenes, but also some very difficult-to-take characters."[8]

Tom McGonigle of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Bartis creates an atmosphere of believability in this novel without forsaking the use of irony."[9]

Publishers Weekly gave the novel a favourable review, writing, "Oddly beautiful and unsettling, the novel boldly illustrates the lengths people go to in securing their own private hells."[4]

The novel has also been reviewed in Le Figaro,[10] Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,[11] Die Zeit,[12] Deutschlandfunk,[13] Der Freitag,[14] Chronic'art[15] and Hungarian Literature Online.[16]

Adaptations

Film

Tranquility was adapted into film, titled Nyugalom (2008). The film was directed by Róbert Alföldi and stars Dorottya Udvaros, Zalán Makranczi, Dorka Gryllus and Judit Hernádi.[3]

It was also adapted into a television film, A nyugalom (2006), by director Mária Vízi.[17]

Theatre

Bartis adapted Tranquility into a dramatic play, titled Anyám, Kleopátra, which premiered at the National Theatre in Budapest in 2003. The play was directed by Dezső Garas and starred Dorottya Udvaros.[3]

Publication history

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A nyugalom - hangoskönyv . . 30 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Tranquility . . 30 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Visszapillantó tükör – Bartis Attila 50 éves . 21 January 2018 . NullaHatEgy . 29 March 2020.
  4. Web site: Fiction Book Review: Tranquility by Attila Bartis, Author, Imre Goldstein, Translator . 3 November 2008 . . 29 March 2020.
  5. Web site: Hungarian novel, Japanese poetry win translation award . Zach . Ed . 19 February 2009 . . . 29 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Attila Bartis . Tallinna Kirjandusfestival . 29 March 2020.
  7. Györgyey . Clara . Attila Bartis. A nyugalom. Budapest. Magvető. 2001. 326 pages. 1,890 Ft. ISBN 963-14-2251-8. . . Winter 2002 . . 76 . 1 . 167 . 29 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Tranquility by Attila Bartis . . 29 March 2020.
  9. Web site: Alive or dead, it really doesn't matter . McGonigle . Tom . 26 October 2008 . . 30 March 2020.
  10. Web site: Folcoche au pays des soviets . Boulouque . Clémence . Clémence Boulouque . 26 April 2007 . . 30 March 2020.
  11. Web site: Das Meer der Ruhe liegt auf dem Mond . 5 November 2005 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090225190513/https://www.faz.net/s/Rub79A33397BE834406A5D2BFA87FD13913/Doc~E5B1BDC37D898400CB858C50D86D72753~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html . 25 February 2009 . 30 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Ungarn im Unklaren . Olschewski . Adam . 26 January 2006 . . 30 March 2020.
  13. Web site: Eine Mutter-Sohn-Hölle . Plath . Jörg . 6 October 2005 . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20080124122746/http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/buechermarkt/426807/ . 24 January 2008 . 30 March 2020.
  14. Web site: Wir sind die Hölle . Winter . Balduin . 21 October 2005 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070829075159/https://www.freitag.de/2005/42/05421702.php . 29 August 2007 . 30 March 2020.
  15. Web site: Attila Bartis - Tranquility . Petit . Amélie . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070918225846/https://www.chronicart.com/livres/chronique.php?id=10490 . 18 September 2007 . 30 March 2020.
  16. Web site: Madness transformed into tranquillity . Ambrus . Judit . 8 November 2005 . Dányi . Dániel . Hungarian Literature Online . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061010133938/http://www.hlo.hu/object.7ec917e6-5f9e-473a-ba58-637678bf6be6.ivy . 10 October 2006 . 30 March 2020.
  17. Web site: A nyugalom (TV Movie 2006) . . 29 March 2020.
  18. Web site: A nyugalom . Magvető Kiadó . 30 March 2020.
  19. Web site: La calma . . 30 March 2020.
  20. Web site: Покоят, от Атила Бартиш . Издателство Ерго . 30 March 2020.
  21. Web site: Spokój . Biblioteka Szkolna SP312 . 30 March 2020.
  22. Web site: Attila Bartis: Die Ruhe. Roman . 20 December 2005 . . 30 March 2020.
  23. Web site: CUPRINS . Biblioteca Județeană Mureș . 30 March 2020.
  24. Web site: Sessizlik . İstanbul Kitapçısı . 30 March 2020.
  25. Web site: Rahu / Attila Bartis ; tõlkinud Lauri Eesmaa ; [toimetanud Tiina Sammelselg, Krisztina Lengyel-Tóth ; kujundanud Merle Moorlat] ]. . 30 March 2020.
  26. Web site: Attila Bartis - Stillheten . . 30 March 2020.
  27. Web site: Bartis, Atila: Klid . 27 June 2010 . . 30 March 2020.
  28. Web site: Rust . . 30 March 2020.
  29. Web site: 宁静海 . . 30 March 2020.
  30. Web site: Спокойствие . Наукова бібліотека ТНПУ . . 30 March 2020.
  31. Web site: Спокойствие . Журнальный зал . 30 March 2020.
  32. Web site: Tranquillità . Atmosphere libri . 30 March 2020.
  33. Web site: A tranquilidade . . 30 March 2020.
  34. Web site: السكينة . National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters . 30 March 2020.