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Abigail - by Magda Szabo (Paperback)
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ABIGAIL is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel set in 1943 Hungary during World War II. It follows the story of Gina, a 14-year-old girl who is sent to a remote school to protect her from reprisals. The novel is full of suspense and mystery, as well as a hidden benefactor and a mysterious garden statue. It is a page-turner that is sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
About the Book Fourteen-year-old Gina, the spoiled daughter of a Hungarian general, rails against being sent to boarding school far from Budapest when war breaks out, but finds help in a statue of Abigail and her new "sisters." Book Synopsis From the author of The Door , a beloved coming-of-age tale set in WWII-era Hungary. Abigail , the s…
About the Book Fourteen-year-old Gina, the spoiled daughter of a Hungarian general, rails against being sent to boarding school far from Budapest when war breaks out, but finds help in a statue of Abigail and her new "sisters." Book Synopsis From the author of The Door , a beloved coming-of-age tale set in WWII-era Hungary. Abigail , the story of a headstrong teenager growing up during World War II, is the most beloved of Magda Szabo's books in her native Hungary. Gina is the only child of a general, a widower who has long been happy to spoil his bright and willful daughter. Gina is devastated when the general tells her that he must go away on a mission and that he will be sending her to boarding school in the country. She is even more aghast at the grim religious institution to which she soon finds herself consigned. She fights with her fellow students, she rebels against her teachers, finds herself completely ostracized, and runs away. Caught and brought back, there is nothing for Gina to do except entrust her fate to the legendary Abigail, as the classical statue of a woman with an urn that stands on the school's grounds has come to be called. If you're in trouble, it's said, leave a message with Abigail and help will be on the way. And for Gina, who is in much deeper trouble than she could possibly suspect, a life-changing adventure is only beginning. There is something of Jane Austen in this story of the deceptiveness of appearances; fans of J.K. Rowling are sure to enjoy Szabo's picture of irreverent students, eccentric teachers, and boarding-school life. Above all, however, Abigail is a thrilling tale of suspense. Review Quotes "The English edition of Abigail is as welcome as it is overdue. Len Rix's translation is deft, but Szabo's frank, conversational prose takes a back seat to her sinuous plotting: The novel unspools its secrets over many pages, and the resulting tour de force is taut with suspense. . . . Nothing could ruin a book so humane--but to resolve the novel's central mysteries, especially the enigma of Abigail's identity, would be to diminish some of its breathless urgency. To learn the truth, you must consult Abigail herself." --Becca Rothfeld, The New York Times Book Review "A tense, intimate narrative that brilliantly depicts youthful innocence ensnared by lethal menace . . . Szabo the magician reveals, for an instant, time, history and human folly, all glimpsed through a child's clear eyes." --Anna Mundow, The Wall Street Journal "[I]n Len Rix's superb translation, Abigail is a delightful page-turner. There's an air of enchantment about the school--the book takes its title from a statue that supposedly grants the students' wishes--and Gina begins to have adventures--some quite funny, others that bring tears to your eyes." --John Powers, NPR's Fresh Air "This infectious coming-of-age novel from Szabo, released in 1970 and translated into English for the first time, is a rollicking delight. Gina Vitay, the headstrong, spoiled lead, is reminiscent of Jane Austen's Emma. . . . Szabo pairs the psychological insights reader will recognize from her novel The Door with action more akin to Harry Potter . Gina is one of Szabo's finest creations." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Sequestered at a boarding school during World War II, a rebellious teenager confronts secrets, lies, and danger. . . . Urgent moral questions underlie a captivating mystery." -- Kirkus About the Author Magda Szabo (1917-2007) is considered one of Hungary's greatest novelists. Her prose, dramas, essays, and poetry have been published in forty-two countries and in 2003 she was awarded the Prix Femina Étranger for The Door . The NYRB Classics edition of The Door was selected as one of the New York Times 10 Best Books of 2015. NYRB Classics also publishes her novels Iza's Ballad and Katalin Street . Len Rix is a poet, critic, and former literature professor. In 2006, he was awarded the Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize for his translation of Magda Szabo's The Door .
Review summary
AI-generated content
ABIGAIL is a suspenseful and thought-provoking novel set in 1943 Hungary during World War II. It follows the story of Gina, a 14-year-old girl who is sent to a remote school to protect her from reprisals. The novel is full of suspense and mystery, as well as a hidden benefactor and a mysterious garden statue. It is a page-turner that is sure to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
Pros
- Engaging plot
- Well-developed characters
- Intriguing historical setting
- Emotional impact
Cons
- Slow start
- Lack of suspense
- Unrealistic events
Read original reviews
Description
About the Book Fourteen-year-old Gina, the spoiled daughter of a Hungarian general, rails against being sent to boarding school far from Budapest when war breaks out, but finds help in a statue of Abigail and her new "sisters." Book Synopsis From the author of The Door , a beloved coming-of-age tale set in WWII-era Hungary. Abigail , the story of a headstrong teenager growing up during World War II, is the most beloved of Magda Szabo's books in her native Hungary. Gina is the only child of a general, a widower who has long been happy to spoil his bright and willful daughter. Gina is devastated when the general tells her that he must go away on a mission and that he will be sending her to boarding school in the country. She is even more aghast at the grim religious institution to which she soon finds herself consigned. She fights with her fellow students, she rebels against her teachers, finds herself completely ostracized, and runs away. Caught and brought back, there is nothing for Gina to do except entrust her fate to the legendary Abigail, as the classical statue of a woman with an urn that stands on the school's grounds has come to be called. If you're in trouble, it's said, leave a message with Abigail and help will be on the way. And for Gina, who is in much deeper trouble than she could possibly suspect, a life-changing adventure is only beginning. There is something of Jane Austen in this story of the deceptiveness of appearances; fans of J.K. Rowling are sure to enjoy Szabo's picture of irreverent students, eccentric teachers, and boarding-school life. Above all, however, Abigail is a thrilling tale of suspense. Review Quotes "The English edition of Abigail is as welcome as it is overdue. Len Rix's translation is deft, but Szabo's frank, conversational prose takes a back seat to her sinuous plotting: The novel unspools its secrets over many pages, and the resulting tour de force is taut with suspense. . . . Nothing could ruin a book so humane--but to resolve the novel's central mysteries, especially the enigma of Abigail's identity, would be to diminish some of its breathless urgency. To learn the truth, you must consult Abigail herself." --Becca Rothfeld, The New York Times Book Review "A tense, intimate narrative that brilliantly depicts youthful innocence ensnared by lethal menace . . . Szabo the magician reveals, for an instant, time, history and human folly, all glimpsed through a child's clear eyes." --Anna Mundow, The Wall Street Journal "[I]n Len Rix's superb translation, Abigail is a delightful page-turner. There's an air of enchantment about the school--the book takes its title from a statue that supposedly grants the students' wishes--and Gina begins to have adventures--some quite funny, others that bring tears to your eyes." --John Powers, NPR's Fresh Air "This infectious coming-of-age novel from Szabo, released in 1970 and translated into English for the first time, is a rollicking delight. Gina Vitay, the headstrong, spoiled lead, is reminiscent of Jane Austen's Emma. . . . Szabo pairs the psychological insights reader will recognize from her novel The Door with action more akin to Harry Potter . Gina is one of Szabo's finest creations." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review "Sequestered at a boarding school during World War II, a rebellious teenager confronts secrets, lies, and danger. . . . Urgent moral questions underlie a captivating mystery." -- Kirkus About the Author Magda Szabo (1917-2007) is considered one of Hungary's greatest novelists. Her prose, dramas, essays, and poetry have been published in forty-two countries and in 2003 she was awarded the Prix Femina Étranger for The Door . The NYRB Classics edition of The Door was selected as one of the New York Times 10 Best Books of 2015. NYRB Classics also publishes her novels Iza's Ballad and Katalin Street . Len Rix is a poet, critic, and former literature professor. In 2006, he was awarded the Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize for his translation of Magda Szabo's The Door .
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