For many Hungarians, life has become increasingly difficult under Viktor Orbán's far-right government. The country's literary scene, once a vibrant and diverse expression of national identity, has been transformed into a hostile environment where writers feel pressure to conform to the government's conservative ideology.
László Krasznahorkai, the first Hungarian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, is a prominent example of this. His victory was celebrated across the country, but he himself is no longer living in Hungary. Like many other artists and writers, Krasznahorkai has been driven out by the government's repressive climate.
The state has taken control of major publishing houses and media outlets, giving preferential treatment to pro-government writers and suppressing independent voices. Many writers have emigrated, seeking more freedom to express themselves.
Csenge Enikő Élő, a 32-year-old author, laments the polarisation of literature in Hungary. "One side is getting a disproportionately large amount of funding, and the other very little," she says. The Fidesz government has also poured billions of forints into conservative educational institutions, further marginalising independent voices.
Libri, the country's leading publisher and bookshop chain, has wrapped books in plastic that depict same-sex relationships, in line with the "child protection" law. The move is seen as a thinly veiled attempt to suppress LGBTQ+ literature and promote a conservative agenda.
Krisztián Nyáry, creative director of Líra's bookshop chain, fears for his own future. "There are Chekhovian rifles hanging on the wall here," he warns. "No one has fired them yet, but we know that if there's a rifle on stage, sooner or later someone will fire it."
The government's efforts to promote right-wing writers and suppress independent voices have been widely criticised. In 2020, teaching unions expressed outrage when József Nyírő was included in the national curriculum, despite his far-right affiliations.
Despite this, Krasznahorkai's Nobel Prize has brought a sense of pride to Hungary. The government is even planning to install a plaque on the house where he grew up and name a school library after him.
For many Hungarians, however, this celebration feels like a betrayal. Márta Becsiné Szabó, a 75-year-old resident of Gyula who took part in the town's Nobel celebrations, says "There's no need to bring politics into this." But for those on the receiving end of the government's repressive policies, it is impossible to separate art from politics.
László Krasznahorkai, the first Hungarian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, is a prominent example of this. His victory was celebrated across the country, but he himself is no longer living in Hungary. Like many other artists and writers, Krasznahorkai has been driven out by the government's repressive climate.
The state has taken control of major publishing houses and media outlets, giving preferential treatment to pro-government writers and suppressing independent voices. Many writers have emigrated, seeking more freedom to express themselves.
Csenge Enikő Élő, a 32-year-old author, laments the polarisation of literature in Hungary. "One side is getting a disproportionately large amount of funding, and the other very little," she says. The Fidesz government has also poured billions of forints into conservative educational institutions, further marginalising independent voices.
Libri, the country's leading publisher and bookshop chain, has wrapped books in plastic that depict same-sex relationships, in line with the "child protection" law. The move is seen as a thinly veiled attempt to suppress LGBTQ+ literature and promote a conservative agenda.
Krisztián Nyáry, creative director of Líra's bookshop chain, fears for his own future. "There are Chekhovian rifles hanging on the wall here," he warns. "No one has fired them yet, but we know that if there's a rifle on stage, sooner or later someone will fire it."
The government's efforts to promote right-wing writers and suppress independent voices have been widely criticised. In 2020, teaching unions expressed outrage when József Nyírő was included in the national curriculum, despite his far-right affiliations.
Despite this, Krasznahorkai's Nobel Prize has brought a sense of pride to Hungary. The government is even planning to install a plaque on the house where he grew up and name a school library after him.
For many Hungarians, however, this celebration feels like a betrayal. Márta Becsiné Szabó, a 75-year-old resident of Gyula who took part in the town's Nobel celebrations, says "There's no need to bring politics into this." But for those on the receiving end of the government's repressive policies, it is impossible to separate art from politics.
The fact that a country's literary scene can be so completely controlled by one ideology is crazy, right? I mean, isn't literature supposed to be about free expression and pushing boundaries? It's like the government is suffocating creativity in Hungary and it's just not okay 
. It's like they're living in a constant state of fear, wondering when their next book or piece will get censored 
. The fact that László Krasznahorkai had to leave the country because of it is just heartbreaking 
. And what's really disturbing is how some people are celebrating his Nobel Prize like it's going to erase all the pain and suffering they're experiencing 
. We should be supporting those who are fighting for their right to write without fear 
.
It's like they're trying to suppress everyone's creativity and just promote their own pro-government writers. But at the same time, I get why they'd want to do that - if you're the one holding all the power and funding... it makes sense that they'd try to shape the narrative.
The guy won a Nobel Prize for crying out loud! You'd think that would be a good thing for his country, but nope... he just can't stay because they don't like his views.
It feels so petty and small-minded. But at the same time, I'm all about free speech and expression, so maybe this is a bit of a slippery slope... 
lászló krassznahorkai winning nobel and then having to leave his own country is just heartbreaking 
maybe its time for them to start taking a closer look at whats going on in their own backyard? 
