“There is no more illustrious history than the history of the Magyar nation. While America was still in the womb of Europe, Hungary prevented the expansion of barbarians, and Hungary maintained the security of the civilized world. The whole civilized world is indebted to Magyarland for its historic deeds.”

This was not said by a Hungarian historian or politician, but by THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919), President of the United States, on April 2, 1910.

Want to know why he said that?
Read on!

This was my second novel, published in its first edition under the title “The Gate of the Danube Bend”.

It was at that time that the ruins of a Tartar-era castle were found where I lived, and I was very interested in the history of the Tartar period. However, I could not find any fiction novels that covered all the relevant events. Have you ever come across one? Don’t be surprised if you haven’t, because it didn’t exist until now.

No fiction book has ever been written about one of Central Europe most mournful events, for which even the most optimistic estimates say that at least 30% of the Hungary population perished, so that an ordinary person can learn about every fateful event!

I felt like I could write this book, but I didn’t want to walk like with my first book without reaching anyone. So I went to the then-mayor of Göd. I offered to write a novel in which, in addition to all the main events of the Tartar invasion, the newly discovered earthen castle would also be included if the representative body agreed to publish the book.

They voted. And the book is out!

However, the distribution was not arranged, so my book was lost in obscurity.

But there was some interesting thing about with the book.

Once, perhaps a year after the publication, an elderly gentleman came to visit me in my home. He had driven from France to Hungary. He tracked down my address, all because a friend had sent him my book and he liked it so much that he wanted to meet the author of the novel in person. This gentleman was the grandson of Miklós Nemeskéri Kiss, an 1848 Honvéd Colonel of the same name, who was almost 80 years old and who had previously owned estates in Göd. We became very good friends and corresponded for many years.

The other interesting thing happened eight years ago, when I was approached by a film producer, who also happened to have my book, who said that this story should definitely be made into a film. Could I write the script? I immediately said sure. Although I had never seen a script before in my life!

I learned. I wrote it. It became the title Tartar Storm, and the truth is that it inspired me to change the title and some of the details of the book. The screenplay was registered under Artisjus130815001T and the casting was already done when it turned out that the promised money would not be forthcoming.

So, now I can say that my book is one of the few that had a script before the general public got to know the novel itself.

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Reader’s Opinions

Review of the novel in the American Midwest Book Review article in Maj. 2021. 

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/may_21.htm#dianedonovan

Direct link to the article in Donovan’s Literary Services:  Tatar Storm 

Historical fiction fans with a special interest in the Mongol era and medieval European backdrops will find a special treat in Tatar Storm—it’s the only fictional work to include all the significant events of the invasion.

The focus is on the grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu Khan, who has his sights set on ruling the entire European continent. He only made it to Hungary, where his rule changed the lives of its people and led to a firm rebellion that prevented him from achieving his broader goals.

One would expect such a story to open in this bygone era, but it begins in modern times, when a female archaeologist arrives on site to investigate an unexpected discovery during a construction project. An ornately carved, hidden door sporting the double seal of Béla IV leads to an ancient sealed box that holds a historical treasure: the words of Detre, son of Máté, who records in extraordinary detail the events which led he and his fellow men to hole up in an old castle for nine months; starving, cold, and dreading the Tatar invaders who have decimated Hungary.

This introduction injects a compelling desperation into the story from the start that draws readers while assuring that no prior familiarity with the era or Hungarian history is needed in order to thoroughly access and enjoy this vivid account: “I shall write down all that I witnessed during this last year, when our beautiful flourishing country became filled with corpse-stinking air and littered with rotting ruins hither and yon, until the time is upon us, until Our Lord’s judgment is fulfilled. My story started here, in this small castle by river Danube exactly a year ago, and how, as the king’s vassal I came to be here, and not, rather sharing the bitter bread of exile with my master, is all explained in the history of events recounted below…”

This preface leads into a story that attracts in two ways: though strong characters, and a ‘you are there’ series of atmospheric descriptions that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and times: “The mounted regiments, the heavy cavalry of the Knights Templar and Hospitaller along with the king`s own heavy cavalry and also the county`s light cavalry brigades camped on the left of the road leading to the city. The private soldiers of the aristocrats erected their tents to the right. There was an empty square, tram-pled flat and fenced in with barriers constructed by the squires, where their lords were passing the time jousting and practising dragoon duelling. The metallic clattering was constant, blade on blade, on shield, on armour.”

From the invaders’ underestimation of the power of the king and the determination of the Hungarians to choose their own leader and destiny to the close attention to historical detail unparalleled in other stories of the times (according to author Tibor Gergely: “About two-thirds of the events described in the novel actually happened. About 70% of the characters in the novel were real people. The novel also features details from original, contemporary documents that fit perfectly into the story.”), this story is powerfully rendered. It will simply delight both newcomers and seasoned readers familiar with the times, who well know of the gap in literature surrounding this important, little-covered era (again, per Gergely: “So far no novels or films have been made about the events of the Mongol invasion in Hungary.”).

The close attention to historical detail alone would have made this historical novel exceptional; but its ability to draw in those less familiar with the history blends accessibility with flair for drama that exquisitely captures the pathos, conflict, and tortuous social and political changes that were the legacies of an invasion that almost resulted in genocide.

It’s rare to find such a blend of scholarly detail spiced with compelling fictional proficiency. Tatar Storm is a standout in many ways, and deserves a place as a foundation piece in any historical fiction library, and on the shelves of readers who may or may not have a prior background or interest in medieval European history.

Diane Donovan, Editor

Lajos Gyáni

This is a really good book. I recommend it to anyone who loves adventurous historical novels.

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