Why people recommend it
Skylark is a poignant novel by Hungarian author Dezső Kosztolányi about an aging provincial couple whose dull, restricted lives are briefly transformed when their plain daughter leaves home for a week-long vacation. On The Book Review podcast, the novel was featured during discussions of classic translated literature. In the July 2024 episode titled 'Gorbachev: His Life and Times', Jen Salai shared that she was currently reading the work by the Hungarian author for her regular reading segment, describing it as a very nice experience. Later in the same episode, Gilbert Cruz provided additional context about the publication, noting that Skylark is included in the esteemed New York Review of Books Classics series. This observation highlighted the book's status as a rediscovered gem of twentieth-century European literature, preserved for modern audiences through specialized publishing imprints. The conversation served to introduce listeners to Kosztolányi's delicate psychological insights and his understated mastery of domestic tragedy, encouraging a broader audience to explore the rich tradition of Hungarian fiction available in English translation.
Who recommended it
- Jen Salai Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
Jen Salai — 1 mention
“um so the book that I'm reading right now is a book by a Hungarian author named deer kolani very nice and thank you and uh the title is Skylark”
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
“and Skylark is in the New York Review of Books Classic series”