The Dispossessed

In "The Dispossessed," acclaimed poet and author Szilárd Borbély crafts a haunting debut novel set in a rural Hungarian village during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Through the eyes of a young, unnamed boy, the story unfolds as he navigates the stark realities of poverty and discrimination stemming from his family's Jewish heritage and historical ties to the Kulaks. Blending various narrative voices—including those of his alcoholic father and his lyrical grandparents—Borbély explores the traumas of his family and Hungary's complex past, creating a raw yet hopeful portrayal of resilience amidst suffering.