The field around Mikszáth

Ideological battles in the literary field emerging around Mikszáth

Abstract

My paper explores the “vaudeville” accusation against Kálmán Mikszáth’s historical novellas, coming from the Academy criticism led by Pál Gyulay, characterised by an agenda of national education. Since the Academy criticism determined by Pál Gyulay held historical novels using realistic representation and enhancing national self-awareness in particular respect, Mikszáth’s poetics – which followed a different principle of verisimilitude, and was inclined to relativization while promoting a multi-dimensional exploration to an aesthetic principle – might be emphasised, signalling far removed Mikszáth’s concept of history and his poetics were from the principles of the Academy.