Monpti – Vaszary Gábor (2017)

The novel Monpti (1934) about a poor Hungarian young man who struggles to get by in Paris without money, looking for any job and also for a kindred spirit, especially a female one, became a worldwide bestseller at the time of its release. This is evidenced not only by millions of copies sold across Europe and the United States but also by cafes, shops, and even a car that bore the name of the main character from this entertaining, masterfully written, and also touching story. The plot of the book is based on the relationship between Monpti and a young French woman, Anne-Claire, who constantly makes up stories, lies, and refuses to commit to her friend at any cost. Their relationship is far from idyllic; on the contrary, it is full of contradictions, the most significant of which is the difference between the carefree, artistically inclined Hungarian and the pragmatic attitude of the young Parisian girl. This leads to a multitude of misunderstandings and both comedic and tragicomic situations. The secret of the novel lies not so much in the story itself but rather in the author's treatment and interpretation. The narration unfolds in a light tone, full of awkward moments, self-irony, and humorous exaggeration, but it is not superficial, and as the reader gradually discovers, it also contains more serious undertones. The novel is published as the 5th volume of the Late Harvest series, already in...