Gendered Peace: Four Hungarian Women Writers Against the Two World Wars. (2nd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farkas, Ákos
• Is Part Of: Slavonica. Volume 22:Number 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 39
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2017-07-02
• Subjects: Hungarian literature -- literature and politics -- pacifism and patriotism in literature -- women writers -- the Hungarian journal Nyugat -- World Wars I and II -- Hungarians and Slovaks; Slavic literature -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; Slavic philology -- Periodicals; Slavic countries -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Europe, Eastern -- Civilization -- Periodicals; 947.0004918
• DOI: 10.1080/13617427.2017.1385138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1361-7427

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Hungary's leading women writers from Margit Kaffka to Piroska Szenes took passionate sides when compelled to choose between the 'maternal' protection of life and the patriot's loyalty to 'fatherland'. 'If only … this whole wartime world was turned upside down!' and 'No peace on earth before the last bit of soil … is regained!' were characteristic wishes made by women writers on either side of the pacifist versus patriot divide. The article seeks to answer the question what, beyond background and temperament, motivated the emblematic female figures of Hungary's interwar literature coming out in favour of peace, country, or both.