£24.99

'Hungary's short-lived Soviet Republic of 1919 saw an eruption of intensely political activity in culture and the arts which encompassed music, art, literature, film and theatre. Painting the Town Redis the little-known history of these developments.

The book opens iwth an overview of the political context in Hungary after the First World War and explains how the Soviet REpublic emerged inteh chaotic months which followed the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. It looks at the subsequent roles of artists, film-makers, actors, musicians and writers, and teh attitude of the newly established People's Commisariat for Education and Culture, in whcih György Lukács played a leading role.

Exploring key questions, including the issue of why so many prominent people in the arts world participated in the Soviet Republic, and why their initial enthusiasm later subsided, Painting the Town Red is a lively account of the interaction between art and politics.'

Bob Dent. Pluto Press, 2018.

Product Code: 9780745337760