Preface to the review series

Why a Hungarian History of English Literature, one might ask. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, as the country’s borders opened, the paradigm of English Studies in Hungary changed: teaching through discussions wrapped in soft pipe smoke late into the night as it used to happen in scholarly or university circles during the Socialist regime was not enough anymore. The then young authors of the volume had to understand that to establish themselves on the international academic stage they need to publish in English journals, and in English. Yet, István Géher (1940–2012), a revered mentor and even father figure to the several present generations of Hungarian scholars insisted that Hungarian scholars should care to publish in Hungarian, for a Hungarian audience.