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Tranquility (novel)
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Wikipedia article
'Tranquility' is a 2001 novel by Attila Bartis, published by Magvet. 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 Rbert Alfldi. Originally published in Hungarian by Magvet, 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. Goldstein's translation won the Best Translated Book Award (2009).
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 Werthe novel's narratorlives in dysfunction with his mother, Rebeka Wer. 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 VH 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 Feh, 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 structure.
Reception
Writing in the Winter 2002 edition of 'World Literature Today', Clara Gyrgyey 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 ( la Pter Ndas) or nightmare." She also praised the novel "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."
'Complete Review' called the novel "an interesting and very vivid psychological study, with some impressive scenes, but also some very difficult-to-take characters."
Tom McGonigle of the 'Los Angeles Times' wrote, "Bartis creates an atmosphere of believability in this novel without forsaking the use of irony."
'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."
The novel has also been reviewed in 'Le Figaro', 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', 'Die Zeit', 'Deutschlandfunk', 'Der Freitag', 'Chronic'art' and 'Hungarian Literature Online'.
Adaptations
Film
'Tranquility' was adapted into film, titled 'Nyugalom' (2008). The film was directed by Rbert Alfldi and stars Dorottya Udvaros, Zaln Makranczi, Dorka Gryllus and Judit Herndi.It was also adapted into a television film, 'A nyugalom' (2006), by director Mria Vzi.
Theatre
Bartis adapted 'Tranquility' into a dramatic play, titled 'Anym, Kleoptra', which premiered at the National Theatre in Budapest in 2003. The play was directed by Dezs Garas and starred Dorottya Udvaros.Publication history
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References
Category:2001 novels
Category:Hungarian novels
Category:Hungarian novels adapted into films
Category:Novels adapted into plays
Category:Novels adapted into television shows
Category:Novels set in Budapest
Category:Novels about actors
Category:Nonlinear narrative novels
Category:2001 in Hungary
Category:Psychological novels
Category:Magvet books
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