Abigail by Magda Szabó, translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix

A Book Review...

I first read Magda Szabó in 2021. I read The Door. I devoured that book. I was so into this often contentious yet loving relationship between Magda and Emerence. After reading that book, I knew I had to read all of Szabó’s English-translated works.

I decided to read Abigail, originally published in 1970, during Women in Translation Month. Set during World World II, Abigail is about a young girl named Gina, who was sent off to a religious boarding school for girls in the remote village of Arkod, far away from her home by her father, a general in the Hungarian Army. Her father tells her she is to tell no one of her whereabouts, not even her friends. The situation surrounding this decision is very precarious and we, like our young protagonist, are unaware of what is driving this decision.

In the beginning, the girls at this school are horrible to her and she is beyond miserable. It is her deepest desire to escape and go back home. She learns from the students of the myth that Abigail, a sculpture in the school garden, helps students who leave handwritten requests into her urn. Soon Gina begins to wonder if there is something more behind this great myth.

What I appreciated about this book is the balance of heavy and light. When we find out what is going on, we realize how serious and dangerous things are for Gina, the students, and her father. Much of this book is set at this school for girls, and while serious world issues are happening, it is often offset by the silly petty things young girls do and say to each other and all of the shenanigans they get up to. All of that added some light and innocence to the story.

Abigail is another Szabó hit for me. I am enjoying reading through her backlist.

Have you read anything by Magda Szabó? What are your thoughts on what you read?