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The Hungarian Tiger
In April 2014, Viktor Orbán, the youngest elected Prime Minister in Hungarian history, became Prime Minister of Hungary for the third time, for the second time with a supermajority, making him the most significant Hungarian politician since the nineteenth century. Beat that. He changed Eastern Europe, and may well do the same for Western Europe.
“ The Hungarian Tiger” is everything you wanted to know about Hungarian politics, but were afraid to ask. It is both a profile of Orbán and an examination of the highly distorted and unfavourable image of him that has been propagated by the international press who, when it comes to Hungary, don’t know their komondor from their kuvasz, or their kuruc from their labanc, or as we say in English, their arse from their elbow.
“ The Hungarian Tiger” is everything you wanted to know about Hungarian politics, but were afraid to ask. It is both a profile of Orbán and an examination of the highly distorted and unfavourable image of him that has been propagated by the international press who, when it comes to Hungary, don’t know their komondor from their kuvasz, or their kuruc from their labanc, or as we say in English, their arse from their elbow.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2014
15 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Tibor Fischer
31 books164 followersTibor Fischer is a British novelist and short story writer. In 1993 he was selected by the influential literary magazine Granta as one of the 20 best young British writers.
Fischer's parents were Hungarian basketball players, who fled Hungary in 1956. The bloody 1956 revolution, and his father's background, informed Fischer's debut novel Under the Frog, a Rabelaisian yarn about a Hungarian basketball player surviving Communism. The title is derived from a Hungarian saying, that the worst possible place to be is under a frog's arse down a coal mine.
In 2009 Fischer became the Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at City and Guilds of London Art School.
Fischer's parents were Hungarian basketball players, who fled Hungary in 1956. The bloody 1956 revolution, and his father's background, informed Fischer's debut novel Under the Frog, a Rabelaisian yarn about a Hungarian basketball player surviving Communism. The title is derived from a Hungarian saying, that the worst possible place to be is under a frog's arse down a coal mine.
In 2009 Fischer became the Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at City and Guilds of London Art School.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 12, 2015
If I wanted to summarise it very simple: it's a shame. Funny? Sure! Fisheresque witty? Absolutely! Comprehensive or even vaguely accurate? Not at all!
You will learn moments of Hungarian history (but really 'No one cares about Hungary'). You will get glimpses of their political culture, but Fischer's book carry the same authenticity and comprehensiveness, as one could expect from any well-seasoned drunkard in any pub in Köbanya by noon on any given Friday.
This book is a randomly selected, loosely connected and wittily narrated series of urban tales and manifestation of pop culture, with a somewhat disturbing idealisation of Orban, the Viktator with the complete ignorance of his self-inflicted economical, educational and political disasters.
The noise that you hear at the end of the book is the well directed and passionate kiss that Fischer, like too many of his compatriots, lays on Orban's backside.
You will learn moments of Hungarian history (but really 'No one cares about Hungary'). You will get glimpses of their political culture, but Fischer's book carry the same authenticity and comprehensiveness, as one could expect from any well-seasoned drunkard in any pub in Köbanya by noon on any given Friday.
This book is a randomly selected, loosely connected and wittily narrated series of urban tales and manifestation of pop culture, with a somewhat disturbing idealisation of Orban, the Viktator with the complete ignorance of his self-inflicted economical, educational and political disasters.
The noise that you hear at the end of the book is the well directed and passionate kiss that Fischer, like too many of his compatriots, lays on Orban's backside.
Read
October 21, 2014A surprisingly compelling defence of Hungary's strongman leader Viktor Orban. The problem being, while Fischer does provide plenty of evidence against what he considers Orban's unfair treatment in the Western press, "no one really cares about Hungary" (the book's refrain) so I don't know how sound that evidence is. Are these unmolested opposition media outlets really so biased, or is it just like the way so many Britons (on all sides) believe the BBC is propaganda for the enemy? And so forth. Not that it's unqualified cheerleading for Orban, mind, and there are sound core points: a past on the far Left is more forgiven than one the other way (the EU president is a former Maoist), and journalists can make a fearful hash when they feign expertise in an area of which they've barely scratched the surface.
(It is funny, by the way, albeit less so than his philosophy/bankrobbing classic The Thought Gang)
(It is funny, by the way, albeit less so than his philosophy/bankrobbing classic The Thought Gang)
May 28, 2018
I don't know much about modern Hungarian politics, except that Viktor Orbán is a modern fascist. Except this very short work by Tibor Fischer, whose book The Thought Gang is one of my favorite books, suggests that all is not what it seems.
It's irreverent, not even slightly objective, and is telling you a narrative. But ultimately Fischer is right - my opinion of Orbán is almost entirely based on journalists who know very little about Hungary, and whose opinions are largely based on the success of his media opponents. This is an entirely fair judgment.
It doesn't mean I'm willing to buy that Orbán is a swell guy, just that I should be more slow to think about what I think about him. If that makes sense.
It's irreverent, not even slightly objective, and is telling you a narrative. But ultimately Fischer is right - my opinion of Orbán is almost entirely based on journalists who know very little about Hungary, and whose opinions are largely based on the success of his media opponents. This is an entirely fair judgment.
It doesn't mean I'm willing to buy that Orbán is a swell guy, just that I should be more slow to think about what I think about him. If that makes sense.
June 23, 2014
Very short! The first half is a quick review of post-communist Hungary, but the second half of the book is mainly a discussion of how great Orban is with very little support or discussion of accomplishments. Skip it and google something more substantive.
December 9, 2014
As I see it, he takes a somewhat surprising stand and throws around some "hedged statements" and convictions that make it overall less convincing. Still, it offers the Fischeresque hybrid insight into Hungarian life and culture and politics that was so valuably new for me in Under the Frog.
December 1, 2017
Interesting. Informative. Lacking ending. Several typos. Orbán sympathizer.
If you're looking for a neutral biography, this isn't it. If you're looking for a crash course in "Who is Viktor Orbán?" and you can disseminate facts from opinions, this is worth the read. Do I know the "truth"? No. But there's enough author commentary in this piece to know Fischer aims at doing more than present dates and names. I actually really enjoyed it until the last few pages, at which point The Hungarian Tiger became more of an Op Editorial than informational primer. Do I recommend it? Yes. Do I think it's all you need to read about Viktor? No. Does my opinion matter? Probably not.
If you're looking for a neutral biography, this isn't it. If you're looking for a crash course in "Who is Viktor Orbán?" and you can disseminate facts from opinions, this is worth the read. Do I know the "truth"? No. But there's enough author commentary in this piece to know Fischer aims at doing more than present dates and names. I actually really enjoyed it until the last few pages, at which point The Hungarian Tiger became more of an Op Editorial than informational primer. Do I recommend it? Yes. Do I think it's all you need to read about Viktor? No. Does my opinion matter? Probably not.
February 24, 2019
Boring
This was one of the most boring books ever and the author as correct when he kept saying no one is interested in Hungary. I thought it might be interesting but it wasn't. And it was hard going also and had to understand.
This was one of the most boring books ever and the author as correct when he kept saying no one is interested in Hungary. I thought it might be interesting but it wasn't. And it was hard going also and had to understand.
July 11, 2020
Read
Read Tibor Fischer. All books. Now. And the short stories. He doesn't have many books so you've got no excuse. Crack on. Enjoy.
Read Tibor Fischer. All books. Now. And the short stories. He doesn't have many books so you've got no excuse. Crack on. Enjoy.
September 8, 2015
This reads like a rather long 'blog post. It's in desperate need of a firm editor to deal with the author's love of lists, similes and inappropriate metaphors.
More annoyingly, I don't really feel like I've learned anything. Essays are written to persuade and - make no mistake - this is an essay and not a piece of journalism. The author writes a lot about the bias and ignorance of the western media. Some or all of which may be true. What he doesn't do is ever give any evidence supporting his arguments, demolishing theirs, or even explaining what those other arguments might be.
I'm as open minded about the person of Orbán now as I was before I read this. Tibor Fischer seems to lack some fundamental skills exhibited by the great essay writers and has failed to persuade me to either agree with him or debate with him.
More annoyingly, I don't really feel like I've learned anything. Essays are written to persuade and - make no mistake - this is an essay and not a piece of journalism. The author writes a lot about the bias and ignorance of the western media. Some or all of which may be true. What he doesn't do is ever give any evidence supporting his arguments, demolishing theirs, or even explaining what those other arguments might be.
I'm as open minded about the person of Orbán now as I was before I read this. Tibor Fischer seems to lack some fundamental skills exhibited by the great essay writers and has failed to persuade me to either agree with him or debate with him.
September 24, 2022
I am a boomerang in Hungary. In 1956 my parents fled Hungary and carried me in a basket to Austria, then on to Camp Kilmer in the USA. For a variety of practical and emotional reasons, I repatriated in 2004. Of course with this bicultural, bilingual background I have followed Tibor Fischer's work. Unlike most of my friends and acquaintances here and around the world, I am interested in Hungary's politics and leadership. Nonetheless, I would recommend this tiny gem of a book to all of my friends who want to learn a little bit about Hungary and its citizens. Plus, as an added bonus, you can have a good laugh while you find out interesting tidbits about modern Hungarians and their history.
January 1, 2026
Excellent summary of Europe's most misunderstood leader
Elected for a third term, Viktor Organ evokes strong emotions. Britain's discredited Liberal Democrats demonstrates their illiberal intolerance by moaning moaning and groaning to join a long list of critics unburdened by knowledge. Tibor Fisher explains the rise of this awkward and determined leader who challenges orthodoxy.
Elected for a third term, Viktor Organ evokes strong emotions. Britain's discredited Liberal Democrats demonstrates their illiberal intolerance by moaning moaning and groaning to join a long list of critics unburdened by knowledge. Tibor Fisher explains the rise of this awkward and determined leader who challenges orthodoxy.
October 8, 2014
I enjoyed this rambling rant! A good overview of the players in modern Hungarian politics and an interesting portrait of Viktor Orban by someone with a sharp eye.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews