SEX NOVEL SEQUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 242, 12 October 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

SEX NOVEL SEQUEL.

A HUNGARIAN TRAGEDY. BEAUTIFUL WOMAN SHOOTS HERSELF. AFTER LIBKL SUIT AGAIXST AUTHOR. No one can say with any degree of certainty whether the unfortunate Mrs. Stephen Gyorke was in fact the heroine of "The House of the Beautiful Angela," the latest novel of Michael Tamas, which has created a sensation in Hungarian literary circles as well as in the native town, of Mrs. Gyorke (writes a special

Budapest correspondent). She asserted that Mr. Tamas, in his story, drew a grossly distorted picture of herself, and sued him for libel. The author denied , this charge most emphatically, and declared that his heroine was only an imaginary character. Whatever the truth may be, there is a shocking similarity between the final chapters of Mrs. Gyorke's romance of life and Mr. Tamas , novel. The beautiful Angela of the story commits suicide because her husband leaves her. Mrs. Gyorke shot herself in the heart a few weeks ago when her husband divorced her because of the scandal awakened by Mr. Tamas' novel. And with this dramatic climax one of the strangest realised romances came to a tragic close. Michael Tamas belongs to the younger generation of Hungary's men cf letters. During the past few years he has published several novels which attracted attention, and critics prophesied for him a brilliant 'future. Living in that part of Czecho-Slovakia, which is mostly populated by Hungarians, he has been regarded as the representative writer of the Hungarian minority in the Central European republic, and he has also played a not unimportant role in the political life of the country. . .

About two years ago tne young writer spent a vacation of several months in Bcregujfalu, a small town situated in a ' valley surrounded by mountains and forests. Naturally, the local intelligentsia received the celebrity with open arms. Invitations came to him from the leading . families, and soon he was acquainted with the inti/nate details of the social life of the place. Originally he had not conieto Beregujfalu to work. But the paltry yet colourful and interesting existence of the people interested him; and he began to consider the possibilities of a novel depicting the smalltown life of the remote Czecbo-Slovakian province. He had learned to know the land and the people, and found excellent models ''for character study among his * acquaintances in Beregujfalu.

Young and Unusually Beautiful,

One of the families he visited regularly was that of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Gyorke, pastor of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Gyorke, a young and unusually beautiful woman, interested him very mjich. Mrs. Gyorke, on her part, seemed to like the author, with whom she could talk about things more interesting that a new dress or a tea party given by a local light. She often accompanied the writer on long walks iii the hills, and invited him to her h'ouse two or .three'times a week. She told him many things about the lives of their mutual acquaintances —all excellent material for the hew book—and confided some details auout lie.r own life. While this friendship was in progress Mr. Tamas began writing his book. In a few Aveeks he was able to send the first half of the manuscript to his publisher,and simultaneously arranged for serial publication in a Hungarian newspaper in Bratislawa. The literary circles of Beregujfalu and the neighbouring,towns' knew that the popular author was- working on a new novel, .and the rumour spread that it would deal w. ; .th real people whom they know personally. So the whole countryside awaited the publication with highpitched anticipation.

A few months later Mr. Tamas left Beregujfalu, and the Bratislaw:', newspaper began the publication of his novel l , entitled "The House of the Beautiful 'Angela." The very opening instalments created a wide sensation in tho province where the scenes were laid, headers thought they recognised their friends, or even themselves, in the characters, and some said-Mrs. Gyorkc was the central feminine iigufe. Thy novel dealt with the love-life of this wonian, picturing her as a Hungarian iVlmc. Bovary who had innumerable surreptitious affairs, and particularly apassionate infatuation with the hero of the novel, who was not unlike the author. '■: •» '.'.,' -, ■

When Mrs. Gyorke read the opening chapters she laughed at what people, called resemblances. Later instalments aroused her indignation, and by the time the . story reached its conclusion she found life in her native town'unbearable. Even her husband, who adored her, tormented her with questions and suspicions. At last Mrs. Gyorke determined to bring suit against her one-time friend, the author, for criminal libel. Most Dramatic Moment. The trial of the extraordinary case ■was held in the city of Ungvar, and no little excitement was manifested throughout the Czecho-Slovakian province. The Court subpoenaed a number of witnesses, who told interesting details about the origin- of Mr. Tamas' novel and supported the theory that the author had given a more or less true photograph of social life in Beregujfalu. Those who thought to recognise themselves in certain characters of the novel were indignant, and asserted that the leading feminine character of the story was pictured in such a Avay that everybody who read the story and knew Mrs. Gyorke had the distinct impression that "The House of the Beautiful Angela" depicted that lady's own personal conduct. One of the witnesses, a country •doctor, testified that he had a conversation with Mr. Tamas during which the author- told him that he was working on a new .novel, something like a. Hungarian Madame Bovary" with real characters. The Pnnrt nr j n V nf fho niA + + t>- Court ordered some of themost telling parts o f the novel to be read, particularly the chapters in winch Angela becomes the m X S s of the wnter K,ch-ola s , and commits Sicidl herself took the witness cha£ - y - e "This iiQvel r bf Mr. Tamas','?■«£ saicl Pie nothing but a mean art" of ?SvS on the part; of'the wr jter. IWtW flrs t time he saw xhe lie wanted W love to me f He told me that I • oßt beautiful woman he had ever Met that I tad become his inspiration and % m¥* & tlus - nonsense, but when

he became insistent I told him that I did not wish to see him any more. Every word in this novel of his is a spiteful hint at me. He pictured ine as a modern Cleopatra, a woman with innumerable love affairs, and one who loved the author passionately. Since the novel appeared I have not been able to set foot in the street without being subjected to humiliations. People point at me, my husband no longer believes in me. That novel has ruined my life." In vain 'Mr. Tamas delivered a long and earnest speech before the Court, declaring- that the "House of the Beautiful Angela" was wholly the work of his imagination. It was also in vain that literary experts absolved the author from evil intentions, arguing that a novelist has the sovereign right to create a work of fiction on the basis of his own personal experiences and impressions. Though the Court did not ■ go into the question of whether or not Mrs. Gyorke was identical with the heroine of Mr. Tamas' novel, it found too obvious a similarity between the pastor's wife and the novel's Angela, and fined the writer 2400 kronen. According to the CzechoSlovakian law, no compensating damages can be awarded in libel suits.

Wrecked Beyond Repair. Tamas paid the fine, and everybody thought the affair was closed. The last and tragic chapter of Mrs. Gyorke's romance, however, was yet to be consummated. The sentence of the Court gave her technical satisfaction, her honour was saved. But her married life had been poisoned. Mrs. Gyorke must have believed she could read her husbands thoughts; perhaps the"story of Michael Tamas was true; perhaps it was not wholly true, but parts of it were fact; perhaps <she had not had so many love affairs; but where was the proof that she never had one sweetheart, one illicit affair? The pastor sat ngihts brooding over that part of his wife's I paet which he did not know. Hβ tortured himself with doubt, his wife "with insinuations. Eventually he told her he I could no longer endure the torment, and I that it would be better for both of them | if they were to separate. Mrs. Gyorke packed her belongings and left the house of her husband.

Thenceforth she lived with her aged mother in Ungvar. Her relatives tried to persuade her to go on a trip abroad, or at least to live for a time in Vienna or Budapest, among people who did not know her and had never learned the tragic sequel to her romance. But all expostulations ' were in vain. She remained where she was, hoping against hope that her hueband would change his mind and that a reconciliation could he brought about. But month after month passed, and there came no word from Dr. Gyorko. A few weeks ago the couple

were legally divorced, and the marital life of Mrs. Gyorke was wrecked beyond repair.

The flay on which the Court handed down the iinal decision in the divorce suit Sirs. Gyorke locked herself in her room. She told her mother that she did not feel well, and wished to be left alone. •A few minutes later the mother heard a shot. When ehe and the neighbours broke in the door they found her daughter lying in a pool of blood holding in her hand a small revolver. It was the end of the beautiful Angela. Among the wreaths placed on the casket at the funeral was one sent by her husband, and another ,by Michael Tamas.