Budapest honours Peruvian Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa with major literary tribute

The Embassy of Peru in Hungary, in close collaboration with the Széchenyi National Library, successfully held a tribute to the Peruvian writer and Nobel Laureate in Literature, Mario Vargas Llosa, on the first anniversary of his death. The event took place at the library and drew a large audience interested in Latin American literature and culture, including local authorities, representatives from publishing houses, and the local press.

The event included the presentation of the Hungarian edition of Mario Vargas Llosa’s last novel, “I Give You My Silence,” introducing the local public to the final work of one of the most outstanding authors in world literature. A panel discussion was also held, featuring renowned Hungarian specialists in Latin American literature and those who knew the Peruvian writer, reflecting on the life and literary, intellectual, and cultural legacy of the Peruvian Nobel laureate.

During the event, attendees also enjoyed the exhibition of the photographic series “My Work with Mario: Photographs by Fiorella Battistini,” which offered an intimate and human glimpse into the writer’s creative process. An exhibition of a representative selection of Mario Vargas Llosa’s major works was also presented, sparking considerable interest among the participants and fostering a deeper understanding of his literary work.

During the event’s opening, Ambassador Pérez Alván highlighted Mario Vargas Llosa’s universal path and the value of his work as a bridge for understanding between cultures.

He noted that, throughout more than six decades of creative work, the author explored with literary depth the great dilemmas of freedom, power, and the human condition, leaving a legacy that transcends borders and generations and continues to resonate with readers worldwide.

This cultural event is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Peruvian culture abroad and to disseminate the legacy of Mario Vargas Llosa as one of the fundamental figures of Spanish-language literature, reaffirming Peru’s presence in the main international cultural spaces.

The panel discussion included the following academics, experts on Latin American Literature:

• Dr. Prof. László Scholz, hispanist and translator (of Vargas Llosa as well)
• András Gulyás, Ambassador, expert on Latin-American Literature, translator (of Vargas Llosa as well)
• Dávid Zelei, hispanist and editor at Helikon Publishing House
• Mercédesz Kutasy, hispanist, translator, moderator

During the panel discussion, the following topics were approached by the panellists:

• Nobel laureate’s final work and enduring legacy
• His place in the literature of the world

• Main elements of his works – multifaceted author
• Structure, content, references to world and Latin American literature, multiple themes, essays
• What it is like to translate him
• Favourite book of each of the speakers from Mario Vargas Llosa
• Personal experiences and encounters with him
• His latest novel: Le dedico mi silencio / I Give You My Silence / Csendes forradalom
  • Peruvian nature, content and references
  • The presentation of the Peruvian term “huachafería” in Hungary and in Hungarian
  • Challenges of translating this novel, due to its cultural background
• Importance and impact of his literature in Hungary
• How to make it appealing to young people

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