(#gifted @maclehosepress)

Translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix, Magda Szabó’s Katalin Street is the perfect example of historical fiction seen through an intensely personal lens. We follow the lives of three families who are living through the 1944 German occupation. Their lives are turned upside down when they’re then forced out of their homes into a cramped, Soviet-style apartment.

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Although the war and occupation are mentioned, it’s very much a story of how the repercussions of it affected this small group of people. I loved the tiny hint of magical realism, as the families are literally haunted by the ghost of Henriette, a Jewish girl whose parents were deported, leaving her in the care of their neighbours and friends.

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It’s certainly a melancholy read, with Szabó musing on grief, loss, and the way history continuously intertwines with the present day, leaving an indelible shadow on those who escaped with their lives. Szabó writes real relationships between flawed people, although it initially takes a while to keep track of all the characters! I found the writing very enjoyable to read, despite the sad subject matter, Len Rix clearly putting the work in with an exquisite translation!

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Definitely a must-read author if you’re looking to diversify your translated reading choices. I can’t wait to read The Door and Abigail!