Hotel Transylvania

About the Book

The “Hotel Transylvania” is my third novel set in the eighteenth century. Together with Child of Europe and An Outsider Among the Thespians, they form a trio. I propose to call it “The Enlightenment Trilogy.” I first became interested in the person of François II Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania, when I read Gyula Szckfü’s 1909 monograph, “The Exiled Rákóczi.” (See the appendix.) I was very impressed with Szekfü’s unmatched scholarship (Sz. was an archivist in Vienna and had unlimited access to the primary sources.) Equally, I was captivated by the novelistic possibilities. The juxtaposition of Rákóczi, the Jansenist recluse, and the gambling house at the Hotel fascinated me. However, I sensed that Szekfü had an ideological bias with which I disagreed. This book is neither an historical nor political treatise but a novel, that is, largely fiction. I’ve perused a great deal of material in English, Hungarian, and French, etc., while doing research for the novel. And, I have returned to both Hungary and Paris to take a personal look at the scenes. I have had gracious help wherever I went and explained the project. Where I could identify the exact date of a book or quote, I did so. Otherwise, I gave the author’s name and years. I have slightly modified a short French poem by Dorothy L. Sayers, and used Richard Wilbur’s excellent translations from Racine and Moliêre. The other translations, unless otherwise noted, are mine. I would like to thank my sister, Mrs. Siórétiné Gyepes Judit not only for her literary review, but also for many of the sources. My niece, Ms. Barbara Gyepes Giammona did the editing work, and Ms. Evelyne Pénia Fodor thoroughly reviewed and edited all the French aspects. Finally, my sincere thanks to Ms. Adele Katz, who valiantly struggled through the handwritten manuscript and the many subsequent drafts. To all of them: MERCI!! thank you!

About the Author