Greg Dorey on Embers

In our series, diplomats give their personal account of the experiences of their “excursions” to Hungarian culture, art, gastronomy and landscape. This time, the British ambassador shares his thoughts with our readers.

Why am I writing this? Because “Diplomacy and Trade” overheard me say I had enjoyed Sandor Marai’s “A gyertyak csonkig egnek” and bullied me into it. Marai’s hatred of communism/fascism alone appeals to lovers of tolerance.

But actually this is his only book I’ve read, though it convinced me I should explore further. And I confess I read it in English – it takes me ages to read Hungarian literature in the original and I fear I miss much. However, Carol Brown Janeway’s version, “Embers”, is extremely good - not always the case with translations of Hungarian classics.

This book should not succeed – it is almost a monologue, slowly-paced and gloomy. But it is highly evocative of the ethos, relationships and complications of a past era and a tale which stays with you long after you put it down.

Though distinctively Hungarian, it is full of universal truths. Which is ultimately what a diplomat is seeking. And since diplomats make as much of what is unsaid as what is said – this is clearly a book that appeals to us. Those who like fast-paced whodunits will be sadly disappointed. Others should seek it out and savour it slowly, like fine wine.