Mór Jókai

06-05-2024

Mór Jókai (1825-1904) is an outstanding figure in the history of Hungarian literature. In the occasion of the 120th anniversary of his death, #MorJokaiWeek pays tribute to the literary, intellectual, and political figure that strongly influenced Hungary in the 19th century, and those importance reverberated into the 20th and 21st Century.


The "great storyteller," as he was already called during his lifetime, had many of his historical novels adapted into films, and his stories remain popular to this day. His oeuvre is extremely versatile, encompassing novels, poems, and short stories. Influenced primarily by Verne, we can also find fantastical novels among his works.

Mór Jókai was also a significant figure in Hungarian history, actively participating in the revolution of 1848. Perhaps his best-known novel on this subject is "The Baron's Sons - A Romance of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848." The writer also served as a member of parliament for much of the latter half of the 19th century. His romantic novels became widely popular among the elite of Victorian England, where he was often compared to Charles Dickens by the press.

Hungarian National Archives, Lithograph of Mór Jókai with a gallant German-language text accompanied by his autograph handwriting and signature

Hungarian National Archives, Copperlate engraving by Barabás Miklós, 1858


Several fragments of Mór Jókai’s work: the manuscript for the outline of the humorous, romantic comic opera "Deli Markó." Its German-language performance took place at either the Theater an der Wien or the Volkstheater. It includes Jókai's directorial instructions.

Hungarian National Archives, Manuscript of Deli Markó

Hungarian National Archives, A letter written in German to the editorial office of the Neuen Illustrierten Zeitung, regarding a correction.


Mór Jókai was not only a fan of literature, but also of nature and gardening. So much so, that in 1853 he bought a 2-hectare plot of land from an abandoned quarry in what is now Költő Street. From here he had a fantastic view of Gellért Hill, the Danube and the whole city.

Találat részletei - Elektronikus Levéltári Portál (eleveltar.hu)


A close up of a letter Description automatically generated A handwritten document with red wax seals Description automatically generated

Budapest City Archives /Budapest Főváros Levéltára, The land purchase contract of Mór Jókai and his first wife Róza Laborfalvy


In 1857, Mór Jókai and his wife, Róza Laborfalvi, an actress, visited Balatonfüred for the first time. Besides the beauty of the landscape, they were so attracted to the atmosphere of the spa that they became regular guests of the town. Ten years later, they purchased the plot of land where the villa, which currently functions as a memorial museum, stands. The building was constructed in an early eclectic style, featuring a spacious foyer, six rooms, a kitchen, and a cellar, offering a beautiful view of Lake Balaton. Rare rose varieties bloomed in the front garden, while Jókai personally tended to the orchard behind the building.

It was here that he wrote one of his most popular novels, "The Man with the Golden Touch," which he himself referred to as his "dearest novel." The novel is available in English online under two different titles: "Timar's Two Worlds" and "The Man with the Golden Touch."

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Timar's Two Worlds, by Mór Jókai.

A könyv két különböző angol cím alatt is megjelent: Timar’s Two Worlds, The Man with the Golden Touch.

A piece of paper with handwriting Description automatically generated

Universitätsbibliothek Basel, A German language letter fragment by Jókai written to an unknown person, written in Budapest on the 3rd September 1876. In the first line of the text, Bfüred [Balatonfüred] is mentioned.

Mór Jókai was already very famous and recognised as an important literary figure in his own time. This is the Resolution of the Nógrád County Legislative Committee of the General Assembly of 31 May 1893, on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Mór Jókai as a writer. The details of the celebration are to be worked out by a delegation appointed for this purpose, which is to make a proposal at the September General Assembly.

A letter with handwriting on it

Description automatically generated

Hungarian National Archives, Resolution of the Nógrád County Legislative Committee of the General Assembly of 31 May 1893

A citation from the document:

Határozat

Nógrád vármegye közönsége határozatilag kimondja, hogy Jókai Mór hazánk élő legnagyobb írója érdemeinek megünneplése czéljából országosan megindult mozgalomhoz csatlakozik, s korunk e kimagasló alakját lelkesedéssel üdvözli.

Decision

The public of Nógrád County declares by resolution that it joins the nationwide movement to celebrate the merits of Mór Jókai, the greatest living writer of our country, and enthusiastically welcomes this outstanding figure of our time.

0/0
Hungarian National Archives, Lithograph of Mór Jókai with a gallant German-language text accompanied by his autograph handwriting and signature
Hungarian National Archives, Copperlate engraving by Barabás Miklós, 1858
Hungarian National Archives, Manuscript of Deli Markó
Hungarian National Archives, Manuscript of Deli Markó
Hungarian National Archives, A letter written in German to the editorial office of the Neuen Illustrierten Zeitung, regarding a correction.
Hungarian National Archives, The land purchase contract of Mór Jókai and his first wife Róza Laborfalvy
Hungarian National Archives, The land purchase contract of Mór Jókai and his first wife Róza Laborfalvy
Universitätsbibliothek Basel, A German language letter fragment by Jókai written to an unknown person, written in Budapest on the 3rd September 1876. In the first line of the text,  Bfüred [Balatonfüred] is mentioned.
Hungarian National Archives, Resolution of the Nógrád County Legislative Committee of the General Assembly of 31 May 1893, ref. HU-MNL-OL-P 509-1.-23.-h-2.-1

Hungarian National Archives, Lithograph of Mór Jókai with a gallant German-language text accompanied by his autograph handwriting and signature

Hungarian National Archives, Copperlate engraving by Barabás Miklós, 1858

Hungarian National Archives, Manuscript of Deli Markó

Hungarian National Archives, Manuscript of Deli Markó

Hungarian National Archives, A letter written in German to the editorial office of the Neuen Illustrierten Zeitung, regarding a correction.

Hungarian National Archives, The land purchase contract of Mór Jókai and his first wife Róza Laborfalvy

Hungarian National Archives, The land purchase contract of Mór Jókai and his first wife Róza Laborfalvy

Universitätsbibliothek Basel, A German language letter fragment by Jókai written to an unknown person, written in Budapest on the 3rd September 1876. In the first line of the text, Bfüred [Balatonfüred] is mentioned.

Hungarian National Archives, Resolution of the Nógrád County Legislative Committee of the General Assembly of 31 May 1893, ref. HU-MNL-OL-P 509-1.-23.-h-2.-1

Research and Text by Ildiko Szerenyi, National Archives Hungary

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