Beyond the Nobel Hype: A Hungarian Author's Profound Look at Memory

The fervor surrounding Han Kang's Nobel Prize in Literature has subsided, making way for the recognition of László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian author whose name was unfamiliar to many. It was discovered that while major domestic publishers lacked his works, Alma Publishing had been diligently releasing Korean translations of his books.

This same publisher also boasts an impressive series of plays. Among them is 'By Heart,' a work that delves into significant reflections on the act of 'remembering.' The article suggests this play as a potent and concise read for the summer.

'By Heart' recounts the methods employed by individuals enduring unjust imprisonment or internment camps to engage with literature. It shares stories of people who, unable to physically possess books, began memorizing them. Through recitation and listening, they shared the essence of the books they had read, preserving them in memory.

These individuals, confined and stripped of physical access to texts, turned to memorization as a means of keeping literature alive. The narrative emphasizes that what is held within one's mind, the internal world, cannot be easily touched or erased. This act of remembering became a powerful tool for survival and cultural preservation.

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People cannot touch what they hold within.