HUNGARY IN THE MIRROR OF THE WESTERN WORLD

HUNGARY
IN THE MIRROR OF THE WESTERN WORLD
1938 - 1958

Gabor Aron Study Group

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

In this age of continuing adult education it is a common phenomenon in the USA to form small groups to read and discuss important books. The common denominator of all these groups is that they attract people of both sexes, of all ages and from different walks of life. The life expectancy of all these groups is short; the birth date is the first meeting and the date of death is the last discussion of the book.

In 1994 a study group came into being with the goal of reviewing the English literature about Hungary, limited to the time frame of 1938-1958. The group was formed on the line of the above described characteristics. The difference was that the participants were not residing in the same location; therefore, the language of communication was not verbal, but written.

As the written reports began to fill one folder after another, the question arose that if the material was ready in a written form, why not publish it? This ambitious goal became even more ambitious when the idea was accepted that if this material is about Hungary, why not publish in the Hungarian language also?

The study group was comprised of six women and ten men. Some of them were immigrants from Hungary; some were born in the United States. Three of them had no Hungarian ancestors. Some of them were interested in research; others, in writing and/or translating. The wish of the members was to use each report in its original form. In order to maintain the originality of each paper, it was decided not to try to blend them all together.

When it was decided to publish their works it became apparent that a "group name," rather than names of individual members, would be more significant. Therefore, the name of a Hungarian folk hero was chosen and the group became the Gabor Aron Study Group.

HUNGARY IN THE MIRROR OF THE WESTERN WORLD