A couple years ago, I posted about this book. Here is a scene from page 38 of the paperback that took place 70 YEARS AGO in the Chapter September-October 1947. Sadly too many Hungarians and Hungarian-Americans remember these times because of their personal losses.
...Koros opened a document and handed it to Father. "It's your turn, Gyula," Koros said flatly, The paper bore the stamp of the government. Like those before him, my father was being asked to sign away his land. It was bad enough that this man treated others in the town with contempt, but that he could be so cold-hearted to someone who was part of his extended family shocked me.
...Koros opened a document and handed it to Father. "It's your turn, Gyula," Koros said flatly, The paper bore the stamp of the government. Like those before him, my father was being asked to sign away his land. It was bad enough that this man treated others in the town with contempt, but that he could be so cold-hearted to someone who was part of his extended family shocked me.
"And if I don't," my father asked.
Waving his hand at the policemen, he said, "You will."
"Sign it, Gyula," my mother said, a catch in her throat. "The land is not worth the price we'll pay if you don't."
At age sixty two, with the flourish of a pen, my father lost most of his land, his horses, his vineyards, his friends, his fruit trees, everything he'd worked for over a lifetime. My mother too lost what she loved. And so did all of us.
Father dropped the document on the ground. "It's all yours, Feri." Then in a calm voice and looking him in the eye, he added, "Men like you disgust me."
Tears tugged at my eyes. I was furious and already imagined strangers cultivating and harvesting our land and the land of our neighbors. How could this man so casually destroy people's lives. Father was right. He was disgusting...
I recently read this book over again. The twists and turns and tensions build, but I'm picking up on some things I didn't the first time around. Not only were Anna Toth's favorite color of roses yellow, but red roses were hated because they were associated with the Communists.
