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I am the author of the novel Prague, a work of fiction set in the real city of Budapest. In this work of fiction, fictional characters express their opinions, some of which include negative opinions of Budapest and of Hungarians. Some readers may find these opinions offensive.
That?s not me talking
Re: Unbearable lightness of Prague by Lucy Mallows.
I am the author of the novel Prague, a work of fiction set in the real city of Budapest. In this work of fiction, fictional characters express their opinions, some of which include negative opinions of Budapest and of Hungarians. Some readers may find these opinions offensive.
My opinions are another matter. To read this work of fiction and assume that the characters are spokesmen for my opinions, as Ms Mallows has done, is to read badly. To go further by quoting the characters and asserting that these quotations represent my opinions is to write badly and dishonestly.
Were the opinions assigned to me of less importance, I would not write this letter.
However, a newspaper published in Hungary assuring its readership that I hold a low opinion of Budapest, Hungary, or Hungarians is a matter worth correcting.
So, in the unlikely event that there is anyone else in Budapest who reads as badly as Ms Mallows, or who believes her dishonest assertions, I will state plainly: I do not share the opinions she blithely pins on me.
I do not "continually put the city down"; some of the characters do. I do not refer to the city as "an Austrian test market"; a fictional character does. I do not "depict" Budapest as being "less epocally [sic] and culturally promising than Prague." That is (but for the misspelling) the thought of a fictional character who, significantly, has spent only 16 hours in Prague and 48 hours in Budapest when he comes to his conclusion.
Furthermore, as the word "epochally" is spelled correctly in both the hardcover edition and the advanced reviewer?s edition, I am a little curious as to what book it is that Ms Mallows "read", a version in which, apparently, the word is misspelled and she feels the need to correct it. Could she actually be reviewing an online excerpt? It seems a little difficult to imagine such a book reviewer.
I did not say that Prague had more important artists or better economic prospects than Budapest; in an essay, I said Prague "got credit for" having them, and, for the very little that my opinion is worth, I believe that credit was wrongly given. I did say that Prague has more stunning architecture than Budapest, and I stand by this view.
As for the news that, while living in Budapest, I "never penetrated the core of the city or its people," I?m sure a journalist of Ms Mallows?s caliber did extensive research, speaking to my friends and colleagues, mapping my daily activities, and constantly monitoring that clearly identifiable urban and popular core of which she is the jealous guardian, prior to commenting on my personal history from 10 years ago.
Arthur Phillips
France
Old problem
Reaction to review of debut novel Prague.
We had this problem in the beginning of the ?90s with expats sent by their companies who couldn?t adept to life in Budapest. Because of their own background, because life here in Budapest is too positive, too full of excitement. Specifically for Americans. Because as we all know, they have the tendency to "know better". "If you do it our way, we will not have any more problems." (I know, I know, I am generalizing of course but I am trying to prove a point).
Arthur Philips is one of those guys. It was already difficult enough for him to be in another country so we should have given him a break. I have seen many men like him getting drunk just because, in there eyes, everybody is having a good time except them.
He stayed an outsider, couldn?t find the password. So he ended up communicating to others like him. Moaning and complaining about these other people having a good time. Unable to move on, out of a morbid fascination, and unable to understand that it was not Budapest or the Magyars but him.
I talked to some of them just to find out more and give them the the benefit of the doubt, so I know (no I am not getting personal).
The book is a revenge, maybe to him even a sweet revenge, but don?t worry Lucy: A writer should have insight, which he lacks, so he?s only a fashion - too ugly to last.
In a way he should thank Budapest and its inhabitants because he could never have written this book anywhere else.
And now, comfortably living in Paris he can still say: "You see, it wasn?t me, because I feel really relaxed now." Well, luckily we know better, living here in this magnificent and intriguing city called Budapest.
If he could be honest, his next book should be called Budapest and should be about a guy living in Prague, remembering his time in Budapest, finally realizing his inability to open up to new surroundings, taking the train back to Budapest and saying to himself with tears in his eyes: "Now my life really begins, because I learned to love."
Peter Hoek
Fadrusz utca, Budapest
Good guide
Although I think The Budapest Sun is dreadful, I was very positively surprised by the Visitors? Guide [produced by the same team] August edition. Congratulations.
Wolfgang Leis
PR-Advisor, Hungary
29.08.2002
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