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In Hungary, notable anniversaries celebrated, keeping the memory of a composer, an invention etc. alive.

Here, we would like to introduce you to our brilliant writer, Mór Jókai, who became the master of romantic story telling. His language is rich, it is harder to read in the AI era. We have found this website you can explore more in English (or Hungarian), there are lesson plans, games as well. 

He was very famous in his time, even a been soup is named after him that was adopted by Karoly Gundel, (famous chef and restaurant still exist today) called Jókai bableves. 

About Jókai

Here are a few of his quotes: 

On truth and morality

• "The smallest lie is a greater sin than the greatest crime honestly confessed" (from Pretty Michal, 1877).
• "The memory of a single good deed lights our path better than the flare of a thousand torches".
• "This law of friendship gave a man the right to demand great things from his neighbor, and those who obeyed this law were bound together by stronger ties than any ties of kinship".

On love

• Regarding a woman’s unconditional love: "She did not know why, she asked for no reason—she only loved. She loved without inquiring whether it was allowed by God and man, whether it would bring her joy or sorrow. She did not long to be happy or great... she only loved" (from The Man with the Golden Touch).
• A Hungarian quote on marriage often attributed to Jókai translates to: "Marriage is like a besieged castle. Those outside want to get in, and those inside want to get out".

From Eyes Like the Sea

• "There is no greater torture in this world than to carry about in one’s soul night and day an evil thought which harasses and makes one sick".
• "When any one is lovely, rich, and well-born, she has the right to be regarded as the exception to every rule".

You can listen to several books from Jókai in LibriVox (free)

Enjoy exploring Jókai, one spoonful at a time!