The Door

Synopsis

A modern classic of Hungarian literature, The Door is an unforgettable novel about power, intimacy, loyalty, and the unknowable depths of another person. The story follows Magda, a successful writer living in postwar Budapest, and Emerence, the fiercely independent housekeeper who gradually takes control of her employer's home while guarding the secrets behind the door to her own.

As the relationship between the two women deepens, what begins as mutual dependence becomes a profound and often unsettling examination of class, guilt, pride, compassion, and the limits of love. Both psychologically gripping and emotionally devastating, The Door has become one of the most acclaimed works of twentieth-century European fiction and is widely regarded as Magda Szabó's masterpiece.

About the Author

Magda Szabó (1917–2007) was one of Hungary's most celebrated novelists, poets, and playwrights. Although her work was suppressed for years under Hungary's Communist regime, she went on to become one of the country's most internationally recognized writers. Her novels, including The Door, Katalin Street, Iza's Ballad, and Abigail, are admired for their psychological depth, moral complexity, and richly drawn female characters. She received numerous literary honours throughout her career, and her work continues to reach new readers through acclaimed translations by Len Rix.

Publisher
NYRB Classics

Publication Date
January 27, 2015

Format
Paperback

Pages
288

Subjects
Literary Fiction · Translated Literature · Hungarian Literature · Classics

ISBN
9781590177716