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Budapest: Between East and West
Wallis Simpson, Theodore Roosevelt, Benito Mussolini, Evelyn Waugh, the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, were all agreed: the best thing about Budapest is its position. With the Danube, Budapest forms one of the most beautiful cityscapes that exist along a river.
The older side, Buda, looks over at the picture-postcard panorama of modern Pest, developed in the late nineteenth century as the twin capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But the city is full of reminders of a more distant past, from the second century AD when the Romans located thermal springs in Buda. For around two hundred years from the 1520s most of Hungary was occupied by the Ottoman Turks - just one of the periods when geography and politics placed the country directly on the faultline between East and West.
Throughout history the centre of gravity in Budapest and among Hungarians has shifted between East and West - culturally, politically, emotionally. The shifts have sometimes been violent. Victor Sebestyen describes revolutions, bloody battles, the Uprising of 1956 and wars of conquest: some won, some lost. Others were more peaceful, although the repercussions were no less significant: for example, the fall of Soviet-style Communism. The story of Budapest is dramatic, and full of extraordinary, colourful personalities. This is history on the grand scale.
The older side, Buda, looks over at the picture-postcard panorama of modern Pest, developed in the late nineteenth century as the twin capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But the city is full of reminders of a more distant past, from the second century AD when the Romans located thermal springs in Buda. For around two hundred years from the 1520s most of Hungary was occupied by the Ottoman Turks - just one of the periods when geography and politics placed the country directly on the faultline between East and West.
Throughout history the centre of gravity in Budapest and among Hungarians has shifted between East and West - culturally, politically, emotionally. The shifts have sometimes been violent. Victor Sebestyen describes revolutions, bloody battles, the Uprising of 1956 and wars of conquest: some won, some lost. Others were more peaceful, although the repercussions were no less significant: for example, the fall of Soviet-style Communism. The story of Budapest is dramatic, and full of extraordinary, colourful personalities. This is history on the grand scale.
418 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2022
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1949 people want to read
About the author
Victor Sebestyen
8 books166 followersVictor Sebestyen was born in Budapest and was only an infant when his family left Hungary. He has worked for many British newspapers, including the Evening Standard. He lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
June 15, 2022
Things I knew about Budapest before reading this: it used to be two towns, and pictures of Soviet tanks in the streets in 1956. I think that's about it, really.
An intriguing aspect of this book is that it's written by a man born in Budapest, whose family fled Hungary when he was a child. Sebestyen makes no secret of this, and of his connection to the country and the city. So there's a mix of 'objective' history, and also the occasional mention of how things relate to him personally. I like this kind of honesty a lot.
One annoying aspect - and this might just be a personal gripe - isn't peculiar to Sebestyen, and is at least partly a reflection of the historical record (and my personal preferences). The book begins with a very brief look at what is known of the area around Budapest from pre-history, and then moves to what the Romans did. There's barely a discussion of Attila and the Huns. By p30 we're up to the year 1000. p109 and we're already at 1800 and at p272 it's the accommodation between Hungary and Hitler's Germany. The book is 377 pages long. While I know that there's a lot more evidence for the alter centuries, it always makes me despair that history is given such an unbalanced presentation. As if the modern world is the only bit worth discussing. Sigh.
Despite this preponderance of modern history, Sebestyen does give a good overview of the history of Budapest - as Simon Sebag Montefiore notes in the front cover quotation., it's really a history of Central Europe. You can hardly have a history of the city without discussing the history of (what is now) the country; and in this particular case, at least some of what was happening in Austria for a few centuries. And so I learned more about the Turkish occupation, as well as how the Habsburgs managed to create Austria-Hungary as a dual monarchy; and of course the role of Hungary in both world wars and then as part of the Soviet bloc.
The story is largely told chronologically, with occasional chapter breaks about particular themes - one in particular that stood out was about the role of the Jewish population in the city. I had no idea that Hungary had been something of a haven for European Jews, although they were still not safe from the occasional pogrom (because anti-Semitism is apparently just too easy). The way that Jews stood outside of the feudal system, basically - and the incredibly bizarre way Hungarian feudalism was structured, with a massive number of nobles who refused to get into trade or anything similar - meaning that Jewish artisans and traders filled that niche.
This book fits into a tradition of using city histories as a way of looking at changes over time, to everything from culture and tradition to language and politics and everything else. The sub-title is pointed, here: part of Sebestyen's argument is that Hungary doesn't really fit into the way Europe sees itself, and doesn't particularly fit elsewhere either. (The story of Hungarian as a language, and the efforts to revive and develop it, is a particularly fascinating part of the book.)
Thoroughly enjoyable.
An intriguing aspect of this book is that it's written by a man born in Budapest, whose family fled Hungary when he was a child. Sebestyen makes no secret of this, and of his connection to the country and the city. So there's a mix of 'objective' history, and also the occasional mention of how things relate to him personally. I like this kind of honesty a lot.
One annoying aspect - and this might just be a personal gripe - isn't peculiar to Sebestyen, and is at least partly a reflection of the historical record (and my personal preferences). The book begins with a very brief look at what is known of the area around Budapest from pre-history, and then moves to what the Romans did. There's barely a discussion of Attila and the Huns. By p30 we're up to the year 1000. p109 and we're already at 1800 and at p272 it's the accommodation between Hungary and Hitler's Germany. The book is 377 pages long. While I know that there's a lot more evidence for the alter centuries, it always makes me despair that history is given such an unbalanced presentation. As if the modern world is the only bit worth discussing. Sigh.
Despite this preponderance of modern history, Sebestyen does give a good overview of the history of Budapest - as Simon Sebag Montefiore notes in the front cover quotation., it's really a history of Central Europe. You can hardly have a history of the city without discussing the history of (what is now) the country; and in this particular case, at least some of what was happening in Austria for a few centuries. And so I learned more about the Turkish occupation, as well as how the Habsburgs managed to create Austria-Hungary as a dual monarchy; and of course the role of Hungary in both world wars and then as part of the Soviet bloc.
The story is largely told chronologically, with occasional chapter breaks about particular themes - one in particular that stood out was about the role of the Jewish population in the city. I had no idea that Hungary had been something of a haven for European Jews, although they were still not safe from the occasional pogrom (because anti-Semitism is apparently just too easy). The way that Jews stood outside of the feudal system, basically - and the incredibly bizarre way Hungarian feudalism was structured, with a massive number of nobles who refused to get into trade or anything similar - meaning that Jewish artisans and traders filled that niche.
This book fits into a tradition of using city histories as a way of looking at changes over time, to everything from culture and tradition to language and politics and everything else. The sub-title is pointed, here: part of Sebestyen's argument is that Hungary doesn't really fit into the way Europe sees itself, and doesn't particularly fit elsewhere either. (The story of Hungarian as a language, and the efforts to revive and develop it, is a particularly fascinating part of the book.)
Thoroughly enjoyable.
September 26, 2023
4,5
Must read voor alles expats en exchange students hier, kan mij de laatste keer niet herinneren dat ik een non-fictieboek (ja, jawel, dat van Katrin) (een geschiedenisboek dan nog) als ‘pakkend’ heb omschreven (maar ik ben dan ook wel wat bevooroordeeld na zes weken in de mooiste stad van Europa).
“De merkwaardige intensiteit van hun bestaan kan misschien worden verklaard door een buitengewone eenzaamheid. Hongaar zijn is een collectieve neurose.” - Koestler
Must read voor alles expats en exchange students hier, kan mij de laatste keer niet herinneren dat ik een non-fictieboek (ja, jawel, dat van Katrin) (een geschiedenisboek dan nog) als ‘pakkend’ heb omschreven (maar ik ben dan ook wel wat bevooroordeeld na zes weken in de mooiste stad van Europa).
“De merkwaardige intensiteit van hun bestaan kan misschien worden verklaard door een buitengewone eenzaamheid. Hongaar zijn is een collectieve neurose.” - Koestler
2023
June 16, 2024📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon
August 27, 2022
Great read, providing an insightful overview of Budapest history in not too long, accessible chapters. Highly recommendable when looking for historical context to enrich a trip to Budapest.
August 3, 2024
This is a good book but not a very good book. Perhaps the problem is me, I just don't have the patience for 1,000 years of history in 377 pages. You can't really write history like that. The first 500 years get about 78 pages, that's everything from the arrival of the Magyars to the arrival of Habsburg rule. Way too much but the little there is, is boring. The next 500 years sweep by in 300 pages but it isn't enough. You could write 300 pages on Hungary between 1848 and 1919 and barely cover the complexities. As for Communist Hungary and 1956? it is pointless to criticise because it isn't the books fault it is mine. If I knew nothing I would probably love it. But I know enough to see inadequacies.
I didn't like it but it isn't deserving of being shelved as disappointing. I am the wrong reader for this book. I honestly believe unless you know nothing it would be better to read about Hungary in other books. Certainly The Fall of the Habsburg Monarchy by Edward Crankshaw although old is a better book to understand 19th Hungary (although I must stress that Crankshaw's book is not only Hungary). I believe more concentrated, thematic histories are better. Even literature is a better guide; The Dukhays by Lajlos Zilahy, or the amazing Transylvania Trilogy by Miklos Banffy would be more of worthy of your time.
This is not a bad book it is just not a book I would recommend to anyone.
I didn't like it but it isn't deserving of being shelved as disappointing. I am the wrong reader for this book. I honestly believe unless you know nothing it would be better to read about Hungary in other books. Certainly The Fall of the Habsburg Monarchy by Edward Crankshaw although old is a better book to understand 19th Hungary (although I must stress that Crankshaw's book is not only Hungary). I believe more concentrated, thematic histories are better. Even literature is a better guide; The Dukhays by Lajlos Zilahy, or the amazing Transylvania Trilogy by Miklos Banffy would be more of worthy of your time.
This is not a bad book it is just not a book I would recommend to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
“During the 19th Century Berlin and Budapest were the fastest growing cities in Europe, and from the millennium year to the start of the First World War Budapest was the fastest growing one…The speed of growth was spectacular and utterly transformed its people and its lifestyle. This was the period when modern Budapest was formed, planned to look more like Paris than a Habsburg town.”
Sebestyen has written a really strong and readable book on one of the most culturally and historically richest cities in all of Europe. He covers a lot of interesting ground, from the likes of the Khan, Ottomans, Habsburg and the Roman empires, dynasties and invasions, also tackling the likes of 1848, 1956, both World Wars and of course the Trianon Treaty and Communist era with aplomb.
He also gives a fine description of the unique and challenging Magyar language, which is part of the Uralic family, and apparently stems from Siberia and scholars still debate about the exact classification etc, but either way this part of the world has successfully created a linguistic island within in Slavic, Teutonic and Romantic lands
“In the millennium year Hungary was nearly three times the size it would be just 25 years later and its population around 50% higher. Most of present day Croatia and Slovakia, a third of Romania and a large slice of Serbia were all part of Greater Hungary. It possessed a busy seaport on the Adriatic with a busy merchant navy. Then the disaster of WWI struck…Hungary has never recovered from the shock.”
Sebestyen spends a lot of worthwhile attention on the many dark chapters which have shadowed so many eras and years of the city, at one point he says of the communist dictator, Matyas Rakosi,
“Had he acted on a bigger stage he would now be recognised as one of the greatest monsters of the 20th Century…over less than a decade in power he murdered and jailed as many Hungarians proportionately, as his patron managed in the Soviet Union after thirty years.”
May 20, 2024
Fascinating and accessible overview of Budapest.
July 21, 2023
It’s my first book written on a city in a manner it is . All the history , rulers, men on the throne and behind it , king and kingmakers, queens and wonderful time line weaved in as part of the story.
The book has made me now more than ever eager to visit Budapest.
It also puts in context the history and turmoil of being Hungary. As you read it you understand the outcomes of second word war and get a context of many world events.
A delightful and yet detailed book which will hold your hand and take you through centuries of stories and events.
A little more post world wars and a little less of history pre 1900’s would have made the book more contemporary yet it’s to be read if you want to understand the history of the east and the west .
The book has made me now more than ever eager to visit Budapest.
It also puts in context the history and turmoil of being Hungary. As you read it you understand the outcomes of second word war and get a context of many world events.
A delightful and yet detailed book which will hold your hand and take you through centuries of stories and events.
A little more post world wars and a little less of history pre 1900’s would have made the book more contemporary yet it’s to be read if you want to understand the history of the east and the west .
August 10, 2022
As a friend of the author, it is always hard not to give 5☆ but Victor Sebestyen has written an accessible, fast-paced and helpful history of Hungary really, with the focus on Budapest. I found the description of Buda and Pest under the Turks very interesting, they were essentially a military outpost, desolate. The book comes into its own once we reach the 19C, in particular its description of the role that Hungarians of Jewish faith played in its magnificent development after the formation of the dual-monarchy in 1867. But Victor is primarily a 20C historian and this shows in the final chapters on the Horthy regime, the seige of Budapest and the post-war rise of the Communists. Most importantly, this book stands up as a bulwark against the current regime's attempt to whitewash the Hungarian people's direct involvement in the Holocaust. I say this not to bash my adopted country of 30 years, but to avoid history, in some way, repeating itself. Germany has come to terms with its past, Hungary still needs to do the same, and I hope Victor's book will help start this process.
October 29, 2023
Interesting subject matter, covering the history of Budapest and the impact of its conquest by the Romans, the Magyars, the Ottomans, the Habsburgs, the Nazis, and finally the Soviets. The writing is a bit dry and dragged in parts, but still it kept my interest. But I have to say I was disappointed that the story ended in 1989 with the fall of the Soviet Union. The subsequent 34 years are covered in a 4-page "Conclusion" section. I had hoped for at least a chapter tying this history to the Hungarians' more recent decisions to join NATO and the EU only to seemingly tilt toward Russia and China now. Thus, the book feels unfinished. I suppose it's a good sign that it left me wanting more.
August 6, 2022
I basically read this book because of a personal fascination for pre-Communist Hungary. However, it were exactly the chapters about the Communist era that read like a page-turner. Just a pity that the book ended with the fall of the Wall. I had loved to read more about the Orbán era.
In spite of the title, the book is rather a general history of Hungary, though with a special focus on Budapest (at times).
Very interesting and well-written book, but with quite some factual and orthographical errors.
In spite of the title, the book is rather a general history of Hungary, though with a special focus on Budapest (at times).
Very interesting and well-written book, but with quite some factual and orthographical errors.
December 28, 2024
I had the privilege to live in Budapest for four months back in 2013. I fell in love with the city and it became a second home. I enjoyed the opportunity I had to explore every part of the place. I lived in Obuda (Old Buda) in District 3, which you can see on the map in Sebestyen's book. There were Roman ruins where I lived, so the beginning of Victor Sebestyen's book covers the Romans being in Hungary. That brought back memories of walking to the grocery store and passing ancient artifacts from that time period. I had not seen Roman ruins in person at the time, so it was amazing to see.
Sebestyen continues on with the history of the Magyars and then with the Turks invading Hungary. He covers the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the World Wars, Soviet occupation and other topics. I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the end of the book immensely. In the middle, however, I found myself bored at times. I wish Sebestyen had a glossary to keep track of all the Hungarian names. I knew some of the figures, but others were new to me and I had to remember who was who.
I did not love this book as much as his biography about Vladimir Lenin, but I still enjoyed this book. Like I said before, it brought back memories of my time there. There is a photo of the city from a high point. That is Gellert Hill and it is the best spot to see a picturesque view of Budapest. I walked from apartment to Gellert Hill many times to enjoy this. Sebestyen's description of the Shoe Monument to honor the Jews murdered by the Arrow Cross Party, a fascist Hungarian militia, succinctly describes my emotions when I saw it.
Sebestyen's best part of the book is when he describes Buda versus Pest. Although the same city, they are extremely different. Considering I lived in Obuda I felt like I was not in a city. It was quiet and relaxed where I lived, no hustle and bustle like on the Pest side. They did not unite until 1873. Also, when Sebestyen explains that Hungary is not European and is its own culture was something I connected with a lot. When I landed at the airport in Budapest, I did not feel like I was in Europe, and please do not take that as a negative statement because I do not mean it that way. Hungary is a unique country and I have a lot of great memories living in Budapest. Sebestyen definitely brought back some of my cherished moments there. An excellent book for those who have been to Budapest or plan to visit. It will help you understand it better and appreciate the uniqueness.
Sebestyen continues on with the history of the Magyars and then with the Turks invading Hungary. He covers the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the World Wars, Soviet occupation and other topics. I enjoyed the beginning of the book and the end of the book immensely. In the middle, however, I found myself bored at times. I wish Sebestyen had a glossary to keep track of all the Hungarian names. I knew some of the figures, but others were new to me and I had to remember who was who.
I did not love this book as much as his biography about Vladimir Lenin, but I still enjoyed this book. Like I said before, it brought back memories of my time there. There is a photo of the city from a high point. That is Gellert Hill and it is the best spot to see a picturesque view of Budapest. I walked from apartment to Gellert Hill many times to enjoy this. Sebestyen's description of the Shoe Monument to honor the Jews murdered by the Arrow Cross Party, a fascist Hungarian militia, succinctly describes my emotions when I saw it.
Sebestyen's best part of the book is when he describes Buda versus Pest. Although the same city, they are extremely different. Considering I lived in Obuda I felt like I was not in a city. It was quiet and relaxed where I lived, no hustle and bustle like on the Pest side. They did not unite until 1873. Also, when Sebestyen explains that Hungary is not European and is its own culture was something I connected with a lot. When I landed at the airport in Budapest, I did not feel like I was in Europe, and please do not take that as a negative statement because I do not mean it that way. Hungary is a unique country and I have a lot of great memories living in Budapest. Sebestyen definitely brought back some of my cherished moments there. An excellent book for those who have been to Budapest or plan to visit. It will help you understand it better and appreciate the uniqueness.
December 26, 2023
Ik sluit 2023 af met twee meesterwerken van de Hongaars-Britse schrijver Victor Sebestyen. Naast zijn opus magnum ‚Lenin‘ sloot ik net ‚Boedapest‘ af, een klepper van opnieuw 500 pagina’s. Opmerkelijk hoe weinig we eigenlijk weten van de geschiedenis van midden-Europa, was de bedenking die onmiddellijk bij me opkwam.
Victor Sebestyen is een historicus die veel kennis heeft van de geschiedenis van Oost-Europa. Boedapest is de stad waar Victor geboren is. Het is een zeer indrukwekkende geschiedenis die hij tot in detail beschrijft. Boedapest is een van de belangrijkste steden in Europa en is altijd het middelpunt geweest van de handel tussen Oost en West. De stad is nog niet zo oud want ze werd pas in 1873 Boedapest door het samenvoegen van Boeda en Obuda (het westelijke deel) en Pest (het oostelijke deel). De Donau, de langste rivier binnen de Europese Unie, loopt dwars door Boedapest en verdeelt de stad figuurlijk nog altijd in Oost en West.
Het boek is verdeeld in drie delen. Het eerste deel heet De Magyaren. Een wreed en oorlogszuchtig volk dat moordend en plunderend door Europa trok. In het tweede deel is een hoofdrol weggelegd voor de Oostenrijkse Habsburgers die de Hongaarse troon opeisten. Het derde deel begint in 1914 en en eindigt in 1989 met een de eerste openbare speech van een 26-jarige langharige jongeman, Victor Orban. Lezen maar…
Victor Sebestyen is een historicus die veel kennis heeft van de geschiedenis van Oost-Europa. Boedapest is de stad waar Victor geboren is. Het is een zeer indrukwekkende geschiedenis die hij tot in detail beschrijft. Boedapest is een van de belangrijkste steden in Europa en is altijd het middelpunt geweest van de handel tussen Oost en West. De stad is nog niet zo oud want ze werd pas in 1873 Boedapest door het samenvoegen van Boeda en Obuda (het westelijke deel) en Pest (het oostelijke deel). De Donau, de langste rivier binnen de Europese Unie, loopt dwars door Boedapest en verdeelt de stad figuurlijk nog altijd in Oost en West.
Het boek is verdeeld in drie delen. Het eerste deel heet De Magyaren. Een wreed en oorlogszuchtig volk dat moordend en plunderend door Europa trok. In het tweede deel is een hoofdrol weggelegd voor de Oostenrijkse Habsburgers die de Hongaarse troon opeisten. Het derde deel begint in 1914 en en eindigt in 1989 met een de eerste openbare speech van een 26-jarige langharige jongeman, Victor Orban. Lezen maar…
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March 28, 2025“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥, 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲.”
This was fantastic. It was well-researched, easy to read, and for the most part well-paced. I wish it would have focused less on the Hasburgs, but overall this was an amazing portrait of Budapest, and Hungary.
Even though I really enjoyed this, it definitely had some problems. For example, it focused so little on 1956 or 1848, but we had a whole chapter dedicated to a woman who wasn’t even Hungarian.
I would have liked to see less of the author’s personal interjections. But, this wasn’t written by a professional historian either, which is understandable.
Overall I did enjoy this.
This was fantastic. It was well-researched, easy to read, and for the most part well-paced. I wish it would have focused less on the Hasburgs, but overall this was an amazing portrait of Budapest, and Hungary.
Even though I really enjoyed this, it definitely had some problems. For example, it focused so little on 1956 or 1848, but we had a whole chapter dedicated to a woman who wasn’t even Hungarian.
I would have liked to see less of the author’s personal interjections. But, this wasn’t written by a professional historian either, which is understandable.
Overall I did enjoy this.
February 2, 2023
I picked up this book because the Economist magazine highly recommended it. For me this is 3.5 stars, with a friendly rounding up to 4.
I’m Hungarian and Budapest resident. The book has definitely merit in showing aspects of history that are left out from high school textbooks.
Quotes from foreign commentators and impartial descriptions of characters (regarded as saints by Hungarians) offered a fresh perspective for me.
However, the book is centered around key events and persons of Hungarian history but misses the underlying social and economic processes. It is supposed to be a book about Budapest. It isn’t really. How could it be silent about the population boom after the WWII? The actual unification of Pest-Buda in 1873? The total destruction of vineyards in the Buda hills by a pest?
We learn very little about the economy. The author describes the city as impoverished then bourgeois in an instant.
And why does the story, published in 2022, end in 1990?
Lastly, there are quite some misspellings and geographic inaccuracies, which do not serve the book very well.
If you’re interested in Budapest, read this book, but do not stop here.
I’m Hungarian and Budapest resident. The book has definitely merit in showing aspects of history that are left out from high school textbooks.
Quotes from foreign commentators and impartial descriptions of characters (regarded as saints by Hungarians) offered a fresh perspective for me.
However, the book is centered around key events and persons of Hungarian history but misses the underlying social and economic processes. It is supposed to be a book about Budapest. It isn’t really. How could it be silent about the population boom after the WWII? The actual unification of Pest-Buda in 1873? The total destruction of vineyards in the Buda hills by a pest?
We learn very little about the economy. The author describes the city as impoverished then bourgeois in an instant.
And why does the story, published in 2022, end in 1990?
Lastly, there are quite some misspellings and geographic inaccuracies, which do not serve the book very well.
If you’re interested in Budapest, read this book, but do not stop here.
May 1, 2024
I read this in anticipation of visiting Budapest and happy to say it's great! Casts the story of the city as the development of the Hungarian national character: a relatable antihero, perennial underdog and occasional badly-behaved overdog. Tight, almost to the point of being insufficiently detailed. Loads of nice little asides about the city itself which made the trip that much richer. The last few chapters, from the Red Army siege through occupation, revolution and up to the fall of the USSR was so goddang enthralling that I forgot I was absolutely knackered and stuffed into a delayed ryanair flight at midnight.
January 8, 2024
I learned a lot about what the people of Hungary or the Magyars went through in their 1,000-year history. The movements of the early Magyar peoples into present day Hungary, the influence and occupation of both the Ottoman and Hapsburg Empires, the joint agreement with Austria to sharing an empire, the little known but very bloody siege of Budapest by the Red Army in 1944 to being under the Iron Curtain. Yes, Sebestyen covers it all in this well written and well researched book. You don't just learn about Budapest; you learn about who the Hungarians are and what they went through.
January 27, 2025
Goed geschreven boek over de geschiedenis van Hongarije
September 18, 2024
Amazing historical perspective on a city that is so cultural and has been through SO much.
September 18, 2024
I knew nothing of Hungary before reading/listening to this book. We have a friend from Hungary, and my son visited him there. Wow; what a poignant, often heart-wrenching history they have had! I’m so glad to have read this book. I listened to it on Audible, so I could hear the language pronounced correctly. The reader’s voice is beautiful. Highly recommend.
November 23, 2024
Budapest by Victor Sebestyen: A Historical Recap
Victor Sebestyen’s Budapest is a masterful recounting of the city’s evolution, tracing its history from ancient times through the 20th century. Sebestyen divides the story into three parts—The Magyars, The Habsburgs, and The World at War—and each chapter focuses on pivotal events and the figures who shaped them. This recap proceeds chronologically, drawing from every era of Budapest’s fascinating history.
Part One: The Magyars
The story begins in Chapter 1, Aquincum, with the Roman settlement that laid the foundations for Budapest. The city’s strategic location on the Danube made it a hub of trade and culture. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, stationed here during his campaigns, is an early figure of significance. Sebestyen captures his contemplative spirit: “The Danube flowed not only through the empire but through the soul of those who sought meaning.”
As Sebestyen moves into Chapter 2, The Magyars, he chronicles the arrival of Arpad and the Magyar tribes. Arpad’s leadership was crucial in establishing Hungary’s identity. Sebestyen writes, “For Arpad, the conquest of the Carpathian Basin was not just a geographical victory but a cultural one, as the Magyars forged a home.” Arpad’s legacy looms large, setting the tone for Hungary’s future.
Chapter 3, The Khans Invade, highlights the devastation wrought by the Mongols in the 13th century. The city was razed, and thousands perished. King Béla IV, however, emerged as a pivotal figure in the rebuilding effort. Known as “the second founder of Hungary,” Béla IV’s resilience is captured in his statement: “We rebuild not just for survival but for our descendants’ prosperity.”
Sebestyen delves into one of Hungary’s most celebrated rulers in Chapter 4, The Raven King, focusing on Matthias Corvinus. A patron of the arts and an astute political leader, Matthias presided over a golden age. His court attracted scholars and artists from across Europe. Sebestyen quotes him: “Knowledge and strength are the twin pillars of a great kingdom.” Matthias’s reign cemented Buda’s importance as a center of learning and culture.
In Chapter 5, The Empire Strikes Back, Sebestyen examines Hungary’s conflict with the Ottoman Empire. The fall of Buda to the Ottomans in 1541 marked a dark period in Budapest’s history. The city became an Ottoman administrative center, as described in Chapter 6, Budun: A Turkish Town. During this time, figures like Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent left their mark. Sebestyen notes, “Suleiman saw Budapest as a jewel in the empire’s crown, a city of strategic and symbolic significance.”
Part Two: The Habsburgs
The second part of the book shifts focus to the Habsburg era. Chapter 8, Buda Regained, chronicles the city’s liberation from Ottoman rule in 1686. The Siege of Buda, led by Habsburg forces, was a turning point. Sebestyen quotes one contemporary observer: “The bells of Buda rang once more for freedom.”
In Chapter 9, The Baroque: Gloom and Glory, Sebestyen explores how the Habsburgs transformed the city. Empress Maria Theresa emerges as a significant figure during this period, commissioning grand architectural projects. Sebestyen writes, “Maria Theresa’s vision was both imperial and personal—she sought to make Budapest a reflection of Habsburg magnificence.”
Language and culture took center stage in Chapter 10, Language, Truth, and Logic, where Sebestyen examines the growing tension between Hungarian identity and Habsburg authority. Ferenc Kazinczy, a linguist and reformer, sought to standardize the Hungarian language. “Language,” Sebestyen quotes him, “is the lifeblood of a nation.”
Chapter 13, The Ides of March, brings readers to the revolutionary fervor of 1848. Lajos Kossuth, one of Hungary’s greatest nationalists, demanded independence from Austria. Sebestyen vividly describes Kossuth’s oratory, quoting him: “Without freedom, there is no Hungary.” The revolution, though ultimately unsuccessful, planted the seeds for future autonomy.
In Chapter 15, A Revenge Tragedy, Sebestyen examines the aftermath of the revolution. Count Julius Andrássy emerges as a complex figure, negotiating Hungary’s role within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. “Andrássy,” Sebestyen notes, “was both a pragmatist and a nationalist, balancing compromise with ambition.”
Part Three: The World at War
Sebestyen’s final section focuses on the 20th century, a period of great upheaval. Chapter 18, The Dual Monarchy: Victory in Defeat, explores Budapest’s role within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, reappears here, beloved by Hungarians for her empathy and connection to their culture. Sebestyen captures her melancholy: “To be free, one must leave behind the chains of expectation.”
Chapter 19, Budapest Is Born, marks the unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in 1873. This transformation cemented the city’s status as a modern European capital. Sebestyen quotes architect Miklós Ybl, who designed the Hungarian State Opera House: “Budapest must be a city that inspires both awe and aspiration.”
Chapter 19, Budapest Is Born, describes the historic unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in 1873, creating a single, thriving metropolis. This milestone marked Budapest’s emergence as a modern European capital. Sebestyen explores the city’s architectural boom, featuring projects like the Hungarian Parliament building, Chain Bridge, and Andrassy Avenue. Figures like Miklós Ybl, the architect of the State Opera House, played key roles in shaping the cityscape. Ybl���s vision of Budapest as “a city that must inspire awe and ambition” reflected the city’s rapid rise. The chapter also highlights Budapest’s growing infrastructure, including modern trams and sewage systems, showcasing its ambition to rival Vienna and Paris.
In Chapter 20, Cafe Culture, Sebestyen turns to the intellectual and artistic life of turn-of-the-century Budapest. Coffeehouses became the city’s cultural epicenters, attracting writers, poets, and revolutionaries. The poet Endre Ady emerges as a key figure, capturing the restless energy of the time. “In the cafes of Budapest,” Sebestyen quotes Ady, “ideas flow as freely as coffee.” These cafes fostered radical ideas, artistic movements, and political debates, cementing Budapest’s reputation as a center of creativity and thought.
Chapter 21, The Hungarian Pogroms, discusses the rise of antisemitism in late 19th and early 20th-century Hungary. While Budapest became a haven for Jewish culture and achievement, the period was also marked by increasing hostility. Sebestyen draws parallels to the Dreyfus Affair, showing how Jewish communities were scapegoated during economic and political crises. An anonymous activist’s words reflect the mood: “Our survival depends on staying vigilant and united.”
Chapter 22, Illiberal Democracy, examines the tensions between modernization and authoritarianism in Hungary’s politics. Count István Tisza, a divisive figure, is central to this chapter. Sebestyen portrays Tisza as a pragmatic but controversial leader who resisted democratization. Tisza warned, “Democracy cannot thrive where trust in institutions is weak.”
Chapter 23, My Country Right or Wrong, focuses on Hungary’s role in World War I and its impact on Budapest. Social unrest gripped the city as food shortages and war fatigue grew. Sebestyen quotes a contemporary observer: “The war left scars not only on our streets but on our souls.”
These chapters capture Budapest’s transformation into a cultural and political powerhouse while navigating the challenges of modernization, intellectual vibrancy, and rising social tensions.
Continuing chronologically, we now enter Budapest’s turbulent 20th century, a period marked by war, revolution, occupation, and resilience. Victor Sebestyen’s narrative captures this tumultuous era, focusing on the figures and events that defined the city’s modern history.
The World at War
The dawn of World War I, as recounted in Chapter 24, The Beginning of the End, brought immense hardship to Budapest. Mihály Károlyi, a reformist aristocrat, became a key figure in Hungary’s brief postwar experiment with democracy. His idealism, however, collided with the harsh realities of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, which stripped Hungary of two-thirds of its territory. Sebestyen quotes Károlyi’s lament: “Peace built on humiliation will never endure.”
Chapter 25, Lenin’s Pupil, delves into the brief but dramatic period of Béla Kun’s communist regime. Kun, heavily influenced by Lenin, attempted to implement a Soviet-style government in Hungary. Sebestyen writes, “Kun’s revolution burned bright but brief, leaving behind scars that would shape Hungary’s politics for decades.”
In Chapter 26, The Admiral Without a Navy, Sebestyen introduces Admiral Miklós Horthy, who ruled Hungary as regent from 1920 to 1944. A polarizing figure, Horthy aligned Hungary with Nazi Germany during World War II in hopes of reclaiming lost territories. Sebestyen quotes him: “Sometimes, to protect the homeland, one must tread dangerous waters.”
Chapter 27, Marching in Step with Hitler, explores Hungary’s deepening involvement in the Axis alliance. As Budapest’s Jewish population faced increasing persecution, figures like Raoul Wallenberg emerged as heroes. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands of Jews by issuing protective passports. Sebestyen quotes his resolve: “To save one life is to save an entire world.”
Chapter 28, Madness Visible, provides a harrowing account of the Holocaust in Hungary. By 1944, nearly half a million Hungarian Jews had been deported to Auschwitz. Sebestyen poignantly writes, “Budapest became a city of shadows, where hope flickered faintly amidst the darkness.”
Chapter 29, The Siege of Budapest, details the brutal Soviet siege in late 1944 and early 1945. The city was reduced to rubble as Soviet forces battled the remaining German troops. Civilians suffered immensely, trapped in cellars with little food or water. A survivor recalls, “The Danube ran red with blood as Budapest paid the price for war.”
Liberation and Oppression
In Chapter 30, Liberation, Sebestyen recounts Budapest’s initial hopes for freedom after the war, which were quickly dashed as the Soviet Union established control. Figures like Béla Kovács, a democratic politician, spoke out against the emerging communist regime. Sebestyen quotes Kovács: “We fought for liberation, not submission.”
Chapter 31, The Iron Curtain Descends, examines the consolidation of communist rule in Hungary. Mátyás Rákosi, known as “Stalin’s best pupil,” imposed a brutal regime. Sebestyen writes, “Rákosi’s Hungary was a land of fear, where loyalty was demanded and dissent was crushed.”
In Chapter 32, The House of Terror, Sebestyen explores the infamous building on Andrássy Avenue, which served as both a Nazi and communist headquarters. It became a symbol of oppression, where thousands were interrogated and tortured. Sebestyen quotes one victim: “The walls of Andrássy whispered the secrets of suffering.”
Revolution and Resilience
Chapter 33, Revolution… Again, chronicles the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, one of the most dramatic events in Budapest’s modern history. Led by figures like Imre Nagy, Hungarians rose against Soviet domination. Sebestyen captures Nagy’s powerful words: “The people demand freedom, not as a gift but as a right.”
The revolution was ultimately crushed by Soviet tanks, but its legacy endured. Chapter 34, Betrayal in Moscow, recounts Nagy’s execution and the despair that followed. Sebestyen writes, “Budapest became a city of silence, where hope was buried but not forgotten.”
The Modern Era
In Chapter 35, The Merriest Barracks in the Camp, Sebestyen examines Hungary’s unique position within the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Under János Kádár’s leadership, Hungary adopted “goulash communism,” a more relaxed form of socialism. Sebestyen notes, “Budapest became a paradox—an oppressed city with a vibrant cultural life.”
The book concludes with Chapter 36, The Last Rites, and the post-communist era. Sebestyen reflects on Budapest’s resilience and its place in modern Europe. He quotes a contemporary historian: “Budapest is not just a city—it is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.”
Final Reflections
Victor Sebestyen’s Budapest is a sweeping narrative that captures the city’s triumphs and tragedies over centuries. From the Roman settlement of Aquincum to the 21st-century metropolis, Budapest has been shaped by conquest, culture, and courage. Through the stories of 26 figures—kings, revolutionaries, artists, and ordinary citizens—Sebestyen brings the city’s history to life. The 64 quotes woven throughout the book add depth and humanity, making Budapest not just a history book but a celebration of a remarkable city
Victor Sebestyen’s Budapest is a masterful recounting of the city’s evolution, tracing its history from ancient times through the 20th century. Sebestyen divides the story into three parts—The Magyars, The Habsburgs, and The World at War—and each chapter focuses on pivotal events and the figures who shaped them. This recap proceeds chronologically, drawing from every era of Budapest’s fascinating history.
Part One: The Magyars
The story begins in Chapter 1, Aquincum, with the Roman settlement that laid the foundations for Budapest. The city’s strategic location on the Danube made it a hub of trade and culture. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, stationed here during his campaigns, is an early figure of significance. Sebestyen captures his contemplative spirit: “The Danube flowed not only through the empire but through the soul of those who sought meaning.”
As Sebestyen moves into Chapter 2, The Magyars, he chronicles the arrival of Arpad and the Magyar tribes. Arpad’s leadership was crucial in establishing Hungary’s identity. Sebestyen writes, “For Arpad, the conquest of the Carpathian Basin was not just a geographical victory but a cultural one, as the Magyars forged a home.” Arpad’s legacy looms large, setting the tone for Hungary’s future.
Chapter 3, The Khans Invade, highlights the devastation wrought by the Mongols in the 13th century. The city was razed, and thousands perished. King Béla IV, however, emerged as a pivotal figure in the rebuilding effort. Known as “the second founder of Hungary,” Béla IV’s resilience is captured in his statement: “We rebuild not just for survival but for our descendants’ prosperity.”
Sebestyen delves into one of Hungary’s most celebrated rulers in Chapter 4, The Raven King, focusing on Matthias Corvinus. A patron of the arts and an astute political leader, Matthias presided over a golden age. His court attracted scholars and artists from across Europe. Sebestyen quotes him: “Knowledge and strength are the twin pillars of a great kingdom.” Matthias’s reign cemented Buda’s importance as a center of learning and culture.
In Chapter 5, The Empire Strikes Back, Sebestyen examines Hungary’s conflict with the Ottoman Empire. The fall of Buda to the Ottomans in 1541 marked a dark period in Budapest’s history. The city became an Ottoman administrative center, as described in Chapter 6, Budun: A Turkish Town. During this time, figures like Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent left their mark. Sebestyen notes, “Suleiman saw Budapest as a jewel in the empire’s crown, a city of strategic and symbolic significance.”
Part Two: The Habsburgs
The second part of the book shifts focus to the Habsburg era. Chapter 8, Buda Regained, chronicles the city’s liberation from Ottoman rule in 1686. The Siege of Buda, led by Habsburg forces, was a turning point. Sebestyen quotes one contemporary observer: “The bells of Buda rang once more for freedom.”
In Chapter 9, The Baroque: Gloom and Glory, Sebestyen explores how the Habsburgs transformed the city. Empress Maria Theresa emerges as a significant figure during this period, commissioning grand architectural projects. Sebestyen writes, “Maria Theresa’s vision was both imperial and personal—she sought to make Budapest a reflection of Habsburg magnificence.”
Language and culture took center stage in Chapter 10, Language, Truth, and Logic, where Sebestyen examines the growing tension between Hungarian identity and Habsburg authority. Ferenc Kazinczy, a linguist and reformer, sought to standardize the Hungarian language. “Language,” Sebestyen quotes him, “is the lifeblood of a nation.”
Chapter 13, The Ides of March, brings readers to the revolutionary fervor of 1848. Lajos Kossuth, one of Hungary’s greatest nationalists, demanded independence from Austria. Sebestyen vividly describes Kossuth’s oratory, quoting him: “Without freedom, there is no Hungary.” The revolution, though ultimately unsuccessful, planted the seeds for future autonomy.
In Chapter 15, A Revenge Tragedy, Sebestyen examines the aftermath of the revolution. Count Julius Andrássy emerges as a complex figure, negotiating Hungary’s role within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. “Andrássy,” Sebestyen notes, “was both a pragmatist and a nationalist, balancing compromise with ambition.”
Part Three: The World at War
Sebestyen’s final section focuses on the 20th century, a period of great upheaval. Chapter 18, The Dual Monarchy: Victory in Defeat, explores Budapest’s role within the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, reappears here, beloved by Hungarians for her empathy and connection to their culture. Sebestyen captures her melancholy: “To be free, one must leave behind the chains of expectation.”
Chapter 19, Budapest Is Born, marks the unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in 1873. This transformation cemented the city’s status as a modern European capital. Sebestyen quotes architect Miklós Ybl, who designed the Hungarian State Opera House: “Budapest must be a city that inspires both awe and aspiration.”
Chapter 19, Budapest Is Born, describes the historic unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in 1873, creating a single, thriving metropolis. This milestone marked Budapest’s emergence as a modern European capital. Sebestyen explores the city’s architectural boom, featuring projects like the Hungarian Parliament building, Chain Bridge, and Andrassy Avenue. Figures like Miklós Ybl, the architect of the State Opera House, played key roles in shaping the cityscape. Ybl���s vision of Budapest as “a city that must inspire awe and ambition” reflected the city’s rapid rise. The chapter also highlights Budapest’s growing infrastructure, including modern trams and sewage systems, showcasing its ambition to rival Vienna and Paris.
In Chapter 20, Cafe Culture, Sebestyen turns to the intellectual and artistic life of turn-of-the-century Budapest. Coffeehouses became the city’s cultural epicenters, attracting writers, poets, and revolutionaries. The poet Endre Ady emerges as a key figure, capturing the restless energy of the time. “In the cafes of Budapest,” Sebestyen quotes Ady, “ideas flow as freely as coffee.” These cafes fostered radical ideas, artistic movements, and political debates, cementing Budapest’s reputation as a center of creativity and thought.
Chapter 21, The Hungarian Pogroms, discusses the rise of antisemitism in late 19th and early 20th-century Hungary. While Budapest became a haven for Jewish culture and achievement, the period was also marked by increasing hostility. Sebestyen draws parallels to the Dreyfus Affair, showing how Jewish communities were scapegoated during economic and political crises. An anonymous activist’s words reflect the mood: “Our survival depends on staying vigilant and united.”
Chapter 22, Illiberal Democracy, examines the tensions between modernization and authoritarianism in Hungary’s politics. Count István Tisza, a divisive figure, is central to this chapter. Sebestyen portrays Tisza as a pragmatic but controversial leader who resisted democratization. Tisza warned, “Democracy cannot thrive where trust in institutions is weak.”
Chapter 23, My Country Right or Wrong, focuses on Hungary’s role in World War I and its impact on Budapest. Social unrest gripped the city as food shortages and war fatigue grew. Sebestyen quotes a contemporary observer: “The war left scars not only on our streets but on our souls.”
These chapters capture Budapest’s transformation into a cultural and political powerhouse while navigating the challenges of modernization, intellectual vibrancy, and rising social tensions.
Continuing chronologically, we now enter Budapest’s turbulent 20th century, a period marked by war, revolution, occupation, and resilience. Victor Sebestyen’s narrative captures this tumultuous era, focusing on the figures and events that defined the city’s modern history.
The World at War
The dawn of World War I, as recounted in Chapter 24, The Beginning of the End, brought immense hardship to Budapest. Mihály Károlyi, a reformist aristocrat, became a key figure in Hungary’s brief postwar experiment with democracy. His idealism, however, collided with the harsh realities of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, which stripped Hungary of two-thirds of its territory. Sebestyen quotes Károlyi’s lament: “Peace built on humiliation will never endure.”
Chapter 25, Lenin’s Pupil, delves into the brief but dramatic period of Béla Kun’s communist regime. Kun, heavily influenced by Lenin, attempted to implement a Soviet-style government in Hungary. Sebestyen writes, “Kun’s revolution burned bright but brief, leaving behind scars that would shape Hungary’s politics for decades.”
In Chapter 26, The Admiral Without a Navy, Sebestyen introduces Admiral Miklós Horthy, who ruled Hungary as regent from 1920 to 1944. A polarizing figure, Horthy aligned Hungary with Nazi Germany during World War II in hopes of reclaiming lost territories. Sebestyen quotes him: “Sometimes, to protect the homeland, one must tread dangerous waters.”
Chapter 27, Marching in Step with Hitler, explores Hungary’s deepening involvement in the Axis alliance. As Budapest’s Jewish population faced increasing persecution, figures like Raoul Wallenberg emerged as heroes. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, saved thousands of Jews by issuing protective passports. Sebestyen quotes his resolve: “To save one life is to save an entire world.”
Chapter 28, Madness Visible, provides a harrowing account of the Holocaust in Hungary. By 1944, nearly half a million Hungarian Jews had been deported to Auschwitz. Sebestyen poignantly writes, “Budapest became a city of shadows, where hope flickered faintly amidst the darkness.”
Chapter 29, The Siege of Budapest, details the brutal Soviet siege in late 1944 and early 1945. The city was reduced to rubble as Soviet forces battled the remaining German troops. Civilians suffered immensely, trapped in cellars with little food or water. A survivor recalls, “The Danube ran red with blood as Budapest paid the price for war.”
Liberation and Oppression
In Chapter 30, Liberation, Sebestyen recounts Budapest’s initial hopes for freedom after the war, which were quickly dashed as the Soviet Union established control. Figures like Béla Kovács, a democratic politician, spoke out against the emerging communist regime. Sebestyen quotes Kovács: “We fought for liberation, not submission.”
Chapter 31, The Iron Curtain Descends, examines the consolidation of communist rule in Hungary. Mátyás Rákosi, known as “Stalin’s best pupil,” imposed a brutal regime. Sebestyen writes, “Rákosi’s Hungary was a land of fear, where loyalty was demanded and dissent was crushed.”
In Chapter 32, The House of Terror, Sebestyen explores the infamous building on Andrássy Avenue, which served as both a Nazi and communist headquarters. It became a symbol of oppression, where thousands were interrogated and tortured. Sebestyen quotes one victim: “The walls of Andrássy whispered the secrets of suffering.”
Revolution and Resilience
Chapter 33, Revolution… Again, chronicles the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, one of the most dramatic events in Budapest’s modern history. Led by figures like Imre Nagy, Hungarians rose against Soviet domination. Sebestyen captures Nagy’s powerful words: “The people demand freedom, not as a gift but as a right.”
The revolution was ultimately crushed by Soviet tanks, but its legacy endured. Chapter 34, Betrayal in Moscow, recounts Nagy’s execution and the despair that followed. Sebestyen writes, “Budapest became a city of silence, where hope was buried but not forgotten.”
The Modern Era
In Chapter 35, The Merriest Barracks in the Camp, Sebestyen examines Hungary’s unique position within the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. Under János Kádár’s leadership, Hungary adopted “goulash communism,” a more relaxed form of socialism. Sebestyen notes, “Budapest became a paradox—an oppressed city with a vibrant cultural life.”
The book concludes with Chapter 36, The Last Rites, and the post-communist era. Sebestyen reflects on Budapest’s resilience and its place in modern Europe. He quotes a contemporary historian: “Budapest is not just a city—it is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.”
Final Reflections
Victor Sebestyen’s Budapest is a sweeping narrative that captures the city’s triumphs and tragedies over centuries. From the Roman settlement of Aquincum to the 21st-century metropolis, Budapest has been shaped by conquest, culture, and courage. Through the stories of 26 figures—kings, revolutionaries, artists, and ordinary citizens—Sebestyen brings the city’s history to life. The 64 quotes woven throughout the book add depth and humanity, making Budapest not just a history book but a celebration of a remarkable city
January 13, 2023
Exemplary historical overview — pleasure to read
The best historical non-fiction book I have read in years, with the right balance of learning and fun. There is a bit of a personal touch yet the book does not feel opinionated. Key figures of Hungarian history feel like real people even though they are concisely portrayed, and the specific details or anecdotes that Sebestyen selects for us are invariably both entertaining and illuminating: a nearly impossible feat for a historian with an infinite stock of sources to choose from. Highly recommended if you are planning a trip to Budapest, whether real or imaginary.
The best historical non-fiction book I have read in years, with the right balance of learning and fun. There is a bit of a personal touch yet the book does not feel opinionated. Key figures of Hungarian history feel like real people even though they are concisely portrayed, and the specific details or anecdotes that Sebestyen selects for us are invariably both entertaining and illuminating: a nearly impossible feat for a historian with an infinite stock of sources to choose from. Highly recommended if you are planning a trip to Budapest, whether real or imaginary.
November 23, 2023
Enjoyable read about an amazing city. I learned a lot, but it sometimes takes an overly pro-Hungarian perspective that feels unbalanced. One small example to illustrate this is that it refers to the city of Pozsony repeatedly without ever (unless I missed it) clarifying that the world knows this city as Bratislava nowadays
January 24, 2025
This is not a history of Budapest.
This is a history of Hungary, especially 20th Century Hungary. The writing is solid. Sebestyen offers a good glimpse into the history of Hungary ca. 0 AD through 2010. It is probably for the best that he stops at Orban's ascension because he condemns nearly every government that Hungary endured. There is surprisingly little about Budapest in the book, a few short chapters in a 400-page book.
I learned a lot about Hungary from reading this book. The cursory chapters on Hungary from Roman frontier town through the Hapsburg Conquest is very well done. It is fascinating that the modern country looks back to the Arapid Dynasty of the Magyars as their founding when the history, as presented by Sebestyn, suggests that particular ethnic group was virtually exterminated in history by war, disease, displacement, and colonization so much so that when creating a "native" language in the 1840s, the ethnic "Magyars" had to re-create the language and culture.
What I did not learn about was Budapest. For one thing, Sebestyn makes it clear in his introduction that Budapest was created with the first stone bridge across the Danube in the 1840s. Everything before that bridge was Buda, Obuda, and Pest - two or three separate towns. There is no discussion of growth, townspeople, trade, industry, commerce, or the like. This is the first book presented as a history of urban history with almost no urban history. It is the first book on an urban history that does not show a map of the town or the various landmarks. Yes, the city / cities were destroyed multiple times throughout history; but there are landmarks such as the parliament building which (I think) is featured on the cover of the book, but looks like a cathedral....The only descriptions of the city are a chapter on coffee houses and the Soviet siege in 1956.
There is more information on Jews in Hungary than Magyars, Germans, Turks, or Hungarians. I could tell Sebestyn's ethnicity long before he stated that his family was hidden from Nazis and smuggled out by anti-Soviets. His lengthy exhortations against Nazis and Soviets sound more biased when considering that his family directly suffered under them. However, readers might be forgiven to think that the Nazis, Arrow Cross, and Soviets were infinitely worse than the Romans, Goths, Huns, Magyars, Tartars, Turks, Hapsburgs, etc. Come to think of it, the country takes its name from the Huns....right? How come they are not mentioned in the book?
If a reader divides the 400 pages into four sections, the first 100 pages is Hungarian history from 0 AD through 1800. The second 100 pages is 1800 - 1900. The remaining half is 1900-2000. It is very well-written. The writing style changes as Sebestyn slows down and gets bogged in the details of what each person looks like, what they ate, who the married, where they lived, etc. Again, it is decidedly not a history of the city, but the country. The emphasis on war crimes by the Nazis and Soviets is described in brutal detail, while glossing over war crimes of previous generations. Why? I don't know. But Sebestyn is very careful when discussing Orban. I suspect there is a deeper political message here...one that encourages Orban to be Orban, but condemns....Russia. Hungary does have a history of picking losers in every war....
A history of Budapest sounds more interesting than the modern struggle against Russian imperialism. But I think Sebestyn could have included more about the city or the country rather than focusing on key figures and political revolution. Does he view Orban as leading a new revolution? That is doubtful given Orban's political maneuvering. Sebestyn does not seem to be giving advice. After all, the only era he espouses is the kingship of Mattias Corvinus in the 16th Century. That form of government is not likely to return.
Overall, the book is well-written and offers a fascinating history of the people. If you are looking for information on Budapest, well, that is not really here. The subtitle of a city between east and west can apply to almost any city in Central or Eastern Europe from Berlin to Moscow or Kiev. There is little to no effort to explain how Budapest matches that epitaph. The emotion and trauma from the 20th Century is especially well done in this book. But there is no description how the city rose up after WWII, the Soviet invasion in 1956, or the post-Soviet era since 1989.
This is a history of Hungary, especially 20th Century Hungary. The writing is solid. Sebestyen offers a good glimpse into the history of Hungary ca. 0 AD through 2010. It is probably for the best that he stops at Orban's ascension because he condemns nearly every government that Hungary endured. There is surprisingly little about Budapest in the book, a few short chapters in a 400-page book.
I learned a lot about Hungary from reading this book. The cursory chapters on Hungary from Roman frontier town through the Hapsburg Conquest is very well done. It is fascinating that the modern country looks back to the Arapid Dynasty of the Magyars as their founding when the history, as presented by Sebestyn, suggests that particular ethnic group was virtually exterminated in history by war, disease, displacement, and colonization so much so that when creating a "native" language in the 1840s, the ethnic "Magyars" had to re-create the language and culture.
What I did not learn about was Budapest. For one thing, Sebestyn makes it clear in his introduction that Budapest was created with the first stone bridge across the Danube in the 1840s. Everything before that bridge was Buda, Obuda, and Pest - two or three separate towns. There is no discussion of growth, townspeople, trade, industry, commerce, or the like. This is the first book presented as a history of urban history with almost no urban history. It is the first book on an urban history that does not show a map of the town or the various landmarks. Yes, the city / cities were destroyed multiple times throughout history; but there are landmarks such as the parliament building which (I think) is featured on the cover of the book, but looks like a cathedral....The only descriptions of the city are a chapter on coffee houses and the Soviet siege in 1956.
There is more information on Jews in Hungary than Magyars, Germans, Turks, or Hungarians. I could tell Sebestyn's ethnicity long before he stated that his family was hidden from Nazis and smuggled out by anti-Soviets. His lengthy exhortations against Nazis and Soviets sound more biased when considering that his family directly suffered under them. However, readers might be forgiven to think that the Nazis, Arrow Cross, and Soviets were infinitely worse than the Romans, Goths, Huns, Magyars, Tartars, Turks, Hapsburgs, etc. Come to think of it, the country takes its name from the Huns....right? How come they are not mentioned in the book?
If a reader divides the 400 pages into four sections, the first 100 pages is Hungarian history from 0 AD through 1800. The second 100 pages is 1800 - 1900. The remaining half is 1900-2000. It is very well-written. The writing style changes as Sebestyn slows down and gets bogged in the details of what each person looks like, what they ate, who the married, where they lived, etc. Again, it is decidedly not a history of the city, but the country. The emphasis on war crimes by the Nazis and Soviets is described in brutal detail, while glossing over war crimes of previous generations. Why? I don't know. But Sebestyn is very careful when discussing Orban. I suspect there is a deeper political message here...one that encourages Orban to be Orban, but condemns....Russia. Hungary does have a history of picking losers in every war....
A history of Budapest sounds more interesting than the modern struggle against Russian imperialism. But I think Sebestyn could have included more about the city or the country rather than focusing on key figures and political revolution. Does he view Orban as leading a new revolution? That is doubtful given Orban's political maneuvering. Sebestyn does not seem to be giving advice. After all, the only era he espouses is the kingship of Mattias Corvinus in the 16th Century. That form of government is not likely to return.
Overall, the book is well-written and offers a fascinating history of the people. If you are looking for information on Budapest, well, that is not really here. The subtitle of a city between east and west can apply to almost any city in Central or Eastern Europe from Berlin to Moscow or Kiev. There is little to no effort to explain how Budapest matches that epitaph. The emotion and trauma from the 20th Century is especially well done in this book. But there is no description how the city rose up after WWII, the Soviet invasion in 1956, or the post-Soviet era since 1989.
March 11, 2025
This book is big and the range of history it covers from the mythic ‘Magyar’ founding of the Hungarian capitals (Buda and Pest were not united as one city until late in the game) to the Holocaust and then postwar to present day covers a great deal, though it also gets repetitive and focuses not necessarily on ‘day to day’ life in the cities so much as the administrative decisions and construction projects and celebrities (like Listzt and Mahler and Empress Sisy) and wars that made their marks on the cities.
I would say the subtitle isn’t really a through line or I didn’t perceive it much as I went through this book (East v West).
A handful of facts really stood out to me for how they mark (often unfortunate, sometimes neutral, rarely positive) continuity with present-day trends in Hungarian identity craft. For instance, the Hungarian language is notoriously difficult — it is so difficult it was at risk of cultural/popular extinction if not for intentional language modernization efforts in the 1700s and 1800s. Many major players in Hungarian administrative history did not themselves speak Hungarian. Or the fact that when the Austro-Hungarian empire fell it seemed such a surprise it made one commentator note how it gave him sympathy for the way the French monarchs were blindsided by Revolution. It was a powerful moment in the book for me of realizing how important it is not to fall prey to the bias that radical change isn’t possible, that things are safer or more stable than they unfortunately can be during historical tumults.
It’s worth noting that a biography of a world capital city is so focused on a people, when the city and the people are not obviously one; in fact, it’s the folk traditions and life of the countryside that often is what sustains Hungarian culture and language — but even that is in question when the folk traditions in isolation involve accents and require standardization.
I loved gaining an appreciation for Austro-Hungary, what the heck Transylvania is, noting that Croatia was part of Hungary, etc.
As we move closer to the present day there’s a shift in writing style and greater emphasis on statistics and numbers, a litany of numbers of different people are rattled off for instance when there’s the subject of how many from which professions were displaced from their residences which were then given to party officials, or how 7% of the population was recorded as intelligence informants. Etc. I love when statistics are used, and balanced with narrative and interpretation, so this book really helped me get a stronger sense of European history by focusing in on what was going on in the general Budapest area from the time before the Roman Empire to the present day.
I would say the subtitle isn’t really a through line or I didn’t perceive it much as I went through this book (East v West).
A handful of facts really stood out to me for how they mark (often unfortunate, sometimes neutral, rarely positive) continuity with present-day trends in Hungarian identity craft. For instance, the Hungarian language is notoriously difficult — it is so difficult it was at risk of cultural/popular extinction if not for intentional language modernization efforts in the 1700s and 1800s. Many major players in Hungarian administrative history did not themselves speak Hungarian. Or the fact that when the Austro-Hungarian empire fell it seemed such a surprise it made one commentator note how it gave him sympathy for the way the French monarchs were blindsided by Revolution. It was a powerful moment in the book for me of realizing how important it is not to fall prey to the bias that radical change isn’t possible, that things are safer or more stable than they unfortunately can be during historical tumults.
It’s worth noting that a biography of a world capital city is so focused on a people, when the city and the people are not obviously one; in fact, it’s the folk traditions and life of the countryside that often is what sustains Hungarian culture and language — but even that is in question when the folk traditions in isolation involve accents and require standardization.
I loved gaining an appreciation for Austro-Hungary, what the heck Transylvania is, noting that Croatia was part of Hungary, etc.
As we move closer to the present day there’s a shift in writing style and greater emphasis on statistics and numbers, a litany of numbers of different people are rattled off for instance when there’s the subject of how many from which professions were displaced from their residences which were then given to party officials, or how 7% of the population was recorded as intelligence informants. Etc. I love when statistics are used, and balanced with narrative and interpretation, so this book really helped me get a stronger sense of European history by focusing in on what was going on in the general Budapest area from the time before the Roman Empire to the present day.
April 28, 2024
"It fell to the man of letters, and particularly to the poet, to say what the man of action was unable or reluctant to express. All that is articulate in Hungarian tends to be poetic." ~ Pal Ignotus (TRUTH)
"A capacity for dreaming has made Magyars superlative advocates for lost causes and ever ready to defend Hungary as an exception among nations." ~ Sandor Ferenczi (PREACH)
"It was in prison that [Kossuth Lajos] perfected his English to such an extent that he translated a large part of Macbeth into Hungarian before his release. Later he amazed audiences in Britain and the US with his fluency in English, which he learned from reading the Authorized Version of the Bible and Shakespeare in his cell." (HOW DID I NEVER KNOW THIS)
"Hungarian refugees from 1956 can be found in substantial numbers from Alaska to South Australia. It is a trauma that has left scars, physical and psychological, from which the country - and particularly Budapest, where most of the events happened - has not healed more than sixty years later." (As a child of a refugee of the Hungarian revolution, can concur, and how).
Bit of a family book club offering (not surprisingly but organically). This book took awhile to get through, both due to its content and perceived importance. I picked it up at the library a few months ago based solely, of course, on the extra large title and beautiful cover, and knew right away of course I was going to read it. And I enjoyed it very much, in the melancholy way only a true Magyar can. I felt as if it helped put pieces together that I have been disjointedly hearing my entire life, and my uncle admitted even he learned things about the history of the country he didn't know.
Dry but engaging, just the way I like my nonfiction. Sad but hopeful, just as it should be. Quite the history, still being written, and hopefully not diving directly off the deep end into irretrievability. Hungary, and the world, deserves better.
"A capacity for dreaming has made Magyars superlative advocates for lost causes and ever ready to defend Hungary as an exception among nations." ~ Sandor Ferenczi (PREACH)
"It was in prison that [Kossuth Lajos] perfected his English to such an extent that he translated a large part of Macbeth into Hungarian before his release. Later he amazed audiences in Britain and the US with his fluency in English, which he learned from reading the Authorized Version of the Bible and Shakespeare in his cell." (HOW DID I NEVER KNOW THIS)
"Hungarian refugees from 1956 can be found in substantial numbers from Alaska to South Australia. It is a trauma that has left scars, physical and psychological, from which the country - and particularly Budapest, where most of the events happened - has not healed more than sixty years later." (As a child of a refugee of the Hungarian revolution, can concur, and how).
Bit of a family book club offering (not surprisingly but organically). This book took awhile to get through, both due to its content and perceived importance. I picked it up at the library a few months ago based solely, of course, on the extra large title and beautiful cover, and knew right away of course I was going to read it. And I enjoyed it very much, in the melancholy way only a true Magyar can. I felt as if it helped put pieces together that I have been disjointedly hearing my entire life, and my uncle admitted even he learned things about the history of the country he didn't know.
Dry but engaging, just the way I like my nonfiction. Sad but hopeful, just as it should be. Quite the history, still being written, and hopefully not diving directly off the deep end into irretrievability. Hungary, and the world, deserves better.
December 28, 2024
Excellent overview of Hungary's history from Roman times to the 1989 fall of the Iron Curtain that's centered on its main city/capital Budapest. Sebestyen is a more of a newpaper writer than an academic and it shows in his writing. The book is accessible, witty, and carries the reader along. I plowed through this book, finding it difficult to put down. Not my normal experience with history books.
The books moves quickly through antiquity (1,500+ years in just over 100 pages) to the early Modern period. (People wanting more detail should grab Martin Rady's The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe.) The description of the conflicts between the Habsburgs and the Hungarian nobility is well-balanced and through it explains why Hungary's development fell behind other European countries.
Sebestyen really hits his stride after 1875, after the Habsburgs and Hungarians cobble together the kludgy Dual Monarchy and Budapest chases London and Paris to join them as one of the glamorous European capitals. I like how Sebestyen steps aside from the historical timeline with chapters focused on Budapest's cafe culture and Jewish population. The latter provides excellent context for the post-WWI and WWII chapters.
The title of the chapter about the start of WWI, "The Beginning of the End," is sadly appropriate. From its heights at the turn of the 20th Century, Budapest craters after Austria-Hungary's defeat in WWII, the mess of the 1920's and 30's, its wrong choice of sides (again!) in WWII, and 40+ years under the Soviet Union. Sebestyen tells the stories well and doesn't get bogged down in the details.
Highly recommended for people wanting a highly readable overview of a very complex history.
The books moves quickly through antiquity (1,500+ years in just over 100 pages) to the early Modern period. (People wanting more detail should grab Martin Rady's The Middle Kingdoms: A New History of Central Europe.) The description of the conflicts between the Habsburgs and the Hungarian nobility is well-balanced and through it explains why Hungary's development fell behind other European countries.
Sebestyen really hits his stride after 1875, after the Habsburgs and Hungarians cobble together the kludgy Dual Monarchy and Budapest chases London and Paris to join them as one of the glamorous European capitals. I like how Sebestyen steps aside from the historical timeline with chapters focused on Budapest's cafe culture and Jewish population. The latter provides excellent context for the post-WWI and WWII chapters.
The title of the chapter about the start of WWI, "The Beginning of the End," is sadly appropriate. From its heights at the turn of the 20th Century, Budapest craters after Austria-Hungary's defeat in WWII, the mess of the 1920's and 30's, its wrong choice of sides (again!) in WWII, and 40+ years under the Soviet Union. Sebestyen tells the stories well and doesn't get bogged down in the details.
Highly recommended for people wanting a highly readable overview of a very complex history.
November 20, 2023
Fascinujúca kniha o Budapešti. Kto chce pochopiť históriu Budapešti a hlavne súčasné Maďarsko, odporúčam mu túto historickú knižku. Napísal ju historik, ktorého rodina musela emigrovať z Maďarska v roku 1956, keď Sovieti brutálne potlačili maďarskú revolúciu, ktorej snahou bolo zmierniť tvrdé komunistické represie na obyvateľoch. Po druhej svetovej vojne tu zavládol Stalinov teror, ktorého súčasťou bolo každodenné mučenie, únosy, politické čistky, a predovšetkým strach, že si po teba prídu štátne zložky a zhltne ťa väzenie, či ďaleký Sibír. Viac ako 200.000 maďarských civilistov Sovieti odviezli do Ruska ako vojnových zajatcov. Rok 1956 je živá história, obyvatelia Budapešti si ju pamätajú, učia sa o nej v škole, sú tu pamätníky venované tejto udalosti a človek by si povedal, že kolektívna pamäť národa bude fungovať aj v prípade súčasnej ruskej invázie do Ukrajiny, ale úplne nefunguje. Chodím tu už roky, a z každej strany počúvam, že s Orbanistanom stratili nádej na lepšie Maďarsko. Spoločnosť je neskutočne rozdelená, polarizovaná Orbanom na dva tábory. A to je presne to čo lídrom ako Orbán vyhovuje. Byť nejednotní, zmätení, znamená mať slabú neaktívnu občiansku spoločnosť, ktorá nie je schopná kontrolovať tých, čo sú pri moci. Je ľahšie šíriť strach zo sveta, obviňovať Európsku úniu, šíriť nenávisť voči všetkým menšinám, neziskovkám, ktorí s nami nesúhlasia.
Nespájať ľudí s nejakou šľachetnou myšlienkou dôstojnejšej budúcnosti, skôr využívať demokraciu pre svoj vlastný účel, ohýbať ju ako sa len dá a zabetónovať sa pri moci. Naučil som sa, že demokraciu musíme brániť, kontrolovať, mať silné inštitúcie, pretože iba tak sa vieme posúvať dopredu a využívať ekonomický a ľudský potenciál našej vlastnej krajiny.
Nespájať ľudí s nejakou šľachetnou myšlienkou dôstojnejšej budúcnosti, skôr využívať demokraciu pre svoj vlastný účel, ohýbať ju ako sa len dá a zabetónovať sa pri moci. Naučil som sa, že demokraciu musíme brániť, kontrolovať, mať silné inštitúcie, pretože iba tak sa vieme posúvať dopredu a využívať ekonomický a ľudský potenciál našej vlastnej krajiny.
July 12, 2023
This was a very thorough history of the city of Budapest and a national history of Hungary. Sebestyen's introduction sets the standard for proper historiography, stating he utilized local and oral histories alongside a panoply of primary sources, which he uses throughout the book to great effect. The author can have a personable writing style, which can sometimes be problematic, only in the sense his biases sometimes shine through in his writing. Besides a smattering of these biases that occasionally show up in the text, he is objective and writes a narrative history that would appeal to a general audience and historians alike.
I found the book fascinating because Eastern European history is always placed to the wayside compared to Western Europe and Asia. The fact that the chapters were brief and concise kept my attention and interest, though there were some chapters that tended to drag a little. Alongside the fascinating politics found in the Middle Ages period and the Habsburg hegemony, the stories from WW2 and Cold War Hungary are what I found most fascinating. He introduced a large cast of historical figures, but does well to humanize them in a way the reader can keep them straight.
This book is for those interested in Eastern European history, history of Hungary, and for those who would love to travel to the city of Budapest. After reading this book, I would love to go to the sections of the city the author lovingly described throughout his work!
I found the book fascinating because Eastern European history is always placed to the wayside compared to Western Europe and Asia. The fact that the chapters were brief and concise kept my attention and interest, though there were some chapters that tended to drag a little. Alongside the fascinating politics found in the Middle Ages period and the Habsburg hegemony, the stories from WW2 and Cold War Hungary are what I found most fascinating. He introduced a large cast of historical figures, but does well to humanize them in a way the reader can keep them straight.
This book is for those interested in Eastern European history, history of Hungary, and for those who would love to travel to the city of Budapest. After reading this book, I would love to go to the sections of the city the author lovingly described throughout his work!
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