Hungary 1000 Forint 2013

History

1000 Forint 2013, Adamo# EM258, Hungary, Children's Literature, The Stars of Eger by Géza Gárdonyi

Obverse. Photo © Magyar Nemzeti Bank

Description

Children's literature encompasses literary works crafted for young, yet developing audiences, with the intention of meeting their needs while also introducing them to more complex literary pieces. In a broader context, the realm of children's and young adult literature extends to informative texts and science fiction, which straddle the line between entertainment and education.

An intriguing aspect of young adult literature is its dual nature: many works originally intended for adults have found a place within young adult literature today (such as "Gulliver's Travels" or Verne's utopian novels), while conversely, numerous works initially aimed at young adults have transitioned into the realm of serious literary recognition (for instance, Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland").

The significance of literature targeted solely at children emerged predominantly in the latter part of the 19th century. Prior to this period, literary creations were primarily geared toward adult readers. However, notable exceptions include the collections of tales by János Arany and Elek Benedek (commencing in 1862 and 1885, respectively), which marked the inception of independent children's literature. Even Sándor Petőfi's narrative poem, "János vitéz" (1844), was crafted for adult audiences. Hungarian children's literature boasts timeless masterpieces such as Sándor Petőfi's "Arany Lacinak," Attila József's "Lullaby," János Arany's "Toldi," and Ferenc Molnár's "Pál utcai fiúk."

Engraver: Gábor Benő Pogány

Obverse	Military Sword, Bastion People (man, woman, child etc.) Woman Depicts a detail of the painting "The Women of Eger" by Bertalan Székely, with the central focus on the main female figure surrounded by the scene of the siege. At the top, the semi-circular legend "STARS OF EGER" is readable. On the right, the engraver's privy mark is placed. "Egri Csillagok" (Stars of Eger) tells the story of the heroic defense of the fortress of Eger against the Ottoman Empire's forces in 1552. The protagonist is Gergely Bornemissza, a young man who joins the defenders of Eger and becomes involved in the struggle to protect his homeland from the invading Turks. The novel portrays the courage, determination, and sacrifice of the Hungarian defenders, as well as the themes of patriotism, honor, and resilience in the face of adversity. EGRI CSILLAGOK GBP
Reverse	Monogram, signature Signature Person (writer, poet, philosopher etc.) Géza Gárdonyi Depicts the portrait of Géza Gárdonyi. On the left, in horizontal rows below each other, the denomination, the inscription "forint," and Géza Gárdonyi's signature are readable. At the bottom edge, in the center, in two rows, the year of issue "2013" and the mint mark "BP" are visible. At the top edge, the legend "HUNGARY" is placed in a circle. Géza Gárdonyi (1863–1922) was a renowned Hungarian author, journalist, and educator, famous for his historical novels and short fiction. Born in Agárdpuszta, Hungary, he primarily resided in Eger, a city that later became the backdrop for one of his most famous literary creations, "Egri Csillagok" (Stars of Eger). Among Gárdonyi's acclaimed works stands "Egri Csillagok," alongside several other historical novels such as "Láthatatlan ember" (The Invisible Man) and "Az én falum" (My Village), alongside a multitude of short stories and theatrical pieces. His oeuvre often delves into themes rooted in Hungarian history, folklore, and the quest for national identity. MAGYARORSZÁG 1000 forint 2013 BP.
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