The construction of reputation: the work of László Krasznahorkai in the globalised world of literature

Type of Abstract (select): Individual Presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
This presentation offers insights into the meteoric rise of László Krasznahorkai, whose dark, dystopian vision has mesmerised the readership since the publication of Sátántangó in 1985. Taking Adam Levy’s claim that “[m]any of the writers still active—Nádas, Esterházy, Krasznahorkai, Kertész and Konrád—have close ties to Germany, the region’s seat of literary consecration, which has given momentum to their popular rise in English” as its starting point, the presentation offers insights into the critical reception of Krasznahorkai’ s notoriously challenging work in German and in English, and also explores the complex interaction between critical perspectives and the mechanisms of international literary prize awarding processes.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Zsuzsanna Varga teaches Hungarian studies at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Her research focuses on Central European cultural history, with special regard to the circulation of books. An interest in travel also shapes her work on travel writing. Recent projects have included Worlds of Hungarian Writing (2017), Popular Cinemas in East Central Europe (2017) and Reflections in the Library: Selected Literary Essays of Antal Szerb (2017).