Tibor Dery Hungarian writer Date of Birth: 18.10.1894 Country: Hungary

1. Early Life and Influences
2. Literary Beginnings and Political Involvement
3. Exile and Literary Development
4. The "Unfinished Sentence" and Prison
5. Post-War Conflict and Recognition
6. Intellectual Opposition and the 1956 Revolution
7. Final Years and Legacy

Early Life and Influences

Tibor Déry was born into a Jewish family in Hungary. His mother was Austrian, so German was spoken at home. From 1911 to 1912, Déry lived in Switzerland, where he attended a business academy. In 1913-1918, he worked as a manager in his uncle's sawmill, where he initially organized a strike.

Literary Beginnings and Political Involvement

In 1917, Déry debuted as a writer in the modernist journal "Nyugat" with the erotic novella "Lia." He joined the Communist Party in 1918 and participated in the nationalization of his father's and uncle's estates the following year. After the Hungarian Soviet Republic was crushed, he fled to Vienna, where he worked for various journals.

Exile and Literary Development

From 1924-1926, Déry lived in France, and from 1929-1935, he resided in Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and other European countries. In Berlin, he connected with expressionists and contributed to Herwarth Walden's journal "Sturm." Upon his return to Hungary in 1935, he produced his first major works.

The "Unfinished Sentence" and Prison

During 1934-1945, Déry worked on his most significant book, the 1200-page novel "Unfinished Sentence" (published in 1947; partially filmed by Zoltán Fábri in 1975). He also published communist journals and was imprisoned several times under the regime of Miklós Horthy.

Post-War Conflict and Recognition

In 1945, Déry initially welcomed the communist regime but soon clashed with them. He published the journal "Csillag" in 1947 and received the Baumgarten Prize in the same year, followed by the newly established Kossuth Prize in 1948. However, his novel "Answer" was criticized in 1952, leading to his expulsion from the Communist Party in 1953.

Intellectual Opposition and the 1956 Revolution

Déry joined the opposition, penning an open letter to Imre Nagy in 1954 demanding political and social reforms. He inspired the 1956 Revolution and actively supported Nagy's government. After the revolution was crushed, he was imprisoned for nine years despite international protests.

Final Years and Legacy

Released in 1960, Déry continued to write, translating German works and publishing self-critical articles. His later works, including "Mr. G. A. in Town X," explored themes of freedom and individuality. Tibor Déry's literary prowess was exemplified by his bold and original style, addressing controversial topics and challenging social norms. In 1984, the Tibor Déry Prize was established in his honor.