György Konrád Criticism
György Konrád, a Hungarian novelist and social worker, is acclaimed for his remarkable literary contributions that delve into the human condition and the socio-political landscape of Eastern Europe. His novel The Case Worker is particularly noted for its vivid descriptive prowess, as described by Irving Howe, who praised Konrád's ability to create sharp, instantly captivating vignettes. However, Neal Ascherson critiques the novel for its reliance on emotional intensity and rhetorical excess, suggesting it might not fully establish Konrád's prowess as a novelist.
Konrád's The City Builder, meanwhile, is recognized for its avant-garde style and rich literary quality, as Ivan Sanders points out. The novel intertwines reality with fantasy to explore the themes of survival amidst historical cruelty, reflecting on the history of an unnamed Eastern European city. Jascha Kessler highlights Konrád’s use of grotesque realism and a critique of utopian dictatorship, underscoring the philosophical and poetic depth of his work. Despite some challenges posed by complex imagery, as noted by Susan Lardner, The City Builder effectively uses interior monologue to convey themes of middle age and personal disillusionment.
Contents
- Konrád, György (Vol. 4)
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Konrád, György (Vol. 10)
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Neal Ascherson
(summary)
In the following essay, Neal Ascherson critiques György Konrád's The Case Worker, acknowledging the author's descriptive prowess and character creation but questioning the novel's reliance on emotional intensity and rhetorical excess, suggesting it does not yet establish Konrád as a gifted novelist.
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Human Dialogues Are Born
(summary)
In the following essay, Ivan Sanders reviews György Konrád's The City Builder, highlighting its avant-garde style and profound literary quality in depicting an unnamed East European city's history, where Konrád's narrative fuses reality with fantasy, and explores themes of survival amidst historical cruelty.
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Jascha Kessler
(summary)
In the following essay, Jascha Kessler examines György Konrád's works "The Case Worker" and "The City Builder," highlighting their themes of grotesque realism, human imperfection, and the critique of utopian dictatorship, while emphasizing the books' poetic and philosophical depth as reflections of Eastern European socialism.
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Susan Lardner
(summary)
In the following essay, Susan Lardner critiques György Konrád's "The City Builder" for its effective use of interior monologue and classical rhetoric to explore themes of middle age and personal disillusionment, despite occasional lapses into cliché and complex imagery that may challenge readers.
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Neal Ascherson
(summary)