Péter Esterházy, Hungarian author, Died at 66

Péter Esterházy was born on April 14, 1950, and died July 14, 2016.

He was a Hungarian writer.

Peter was one of the most widely known contemporary Hungarian and Central European writers.

Esterhazy’s books are considered to be significant contributions to postwar literature.

He was perhaps best known outside of his native country for Celestial Harmonies (Harmonia Caelestis, 2000) which chronicles his forefathers’ epic rise during the Austro-Hungarian empire – when Haydn composed music at the family palace – to its dispossession under communism.

Revised Edition (Javított kiadás, 2002) was his next, which appeared as an “appendix” to the former work, was born from the shock when he learnt that his father was an informer for the secret police of the Communist era.

Peter’s works have been published in more than 20 languages.

Péter Esterházy has won almost every literary distinction in Hungary, including the prestigious Kossuth Prize in 1996, and has received awards for his work in France, Austria, Germany, Slovenia and Norway.

Péter Esterházy was married to Margit Reén, and had 4 children (Dóra, Marcell, Zsófia, Miklós).

He died due to from pancreatic cancer.

Péter Esterházy passed away at 66 years old.