Panel Literature Association

22/07/2025

NEW BOOK IS COMING SOON!

As some of you might know, our team and our amazing contributors have been working hard on the sequel to Narratives of Budapest, with the working title “Narratives of Hungary”.

This new collection continues our journey—this time, beyond the capital. We've heard unique stories, met remarkable individuals, and explored hidden corners of the country.

We set out in search of distinctive stories, places, and cultural traditions—with the aim of “translating” them into English.

Our goal – to hear different voices and to make them co-exist under one cover – has become the main complication of this huge project.
However, the book is shaping up and we are ready to share a few details!

WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS OF THE NEW “NARRATIVES''?
*Healers and witches
*Naturists
*Foresters
*Road travelers
*Paprika producers
*Naughty busós
*Singers of Magyar Nóta
*The Angel Makers of Nagyrév
*Poets, writers, artists and cultural workers living outside Budapest—such as Dávid Szalay, Gábor Gyukics, the Barabás siblings, Orsolya Karafiáth...
*And many others.

WHAT ARE THE STORIES ABOUT?
*Childhood memories
*Forgotten monuments
*Artistic colonies
*Little museums
*Old cemeteries
*Abandoned industrial buildings
*Labyrinths and dungeons
*Woods and beaches
*And so much more.

Our journey has taken us from Veszprém to Balaton, from Győr to Mohács, from Pécs to tiny villages.

We are nose-deep in the editing process now -- excited, frustrated, the whole rollercoaster.
We hope to release the collection before the end of this year.

Follow our social media for the updates! We'll tell more soon.

03/07/2025

"I began learning Hungarian in the early 1990s when I spent two terms in Szeged in a study abroad program through my college. My classmates and I had a few hours a week dedicated to learning Hungarian, learning the 44 letters of the Hungarian alphabet, pronunciation, and some of the basic vocabulary. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we did not envision futures in Hungary, so the whole exercise was approached less as an investment and more as a facilitation for successfully ordering beer.
Living with three generations of a family, half of whom did not speak English, should have accelerated my acquisition of the language. My wonderful host grandmother, an exceptional cook, quickly realized the futility, and would simply tell me that lunch was ready by saying “hommhomm” and, to make sure I got the idea, would raise her hand to her mouth.
And now, after decades of extended stays in Hungary, including this latest time of over five years, the fact is that I still don’t really know it, despite prolonged exposure to it, and despite bouts of earnestness in bookstores and app stores which has yielded a sizeable collection of resources on how to do it. I’ve read the books. I’ve played with the apps. I can’t do it".

This bit belongs to a wonderfully honest essay
"At a Loss for Words Or, the Confession of a Monolinguist" written by Peter Haldeman.
One can certainly relate to this, and perhaps, not only when it comes to Hungarian language...

The essay features the issue 12 of Panel.

To read it in full and to explore other excellent writing from Central Europe on language - order Panel in print (just a few copies left in stock) or download a digital version!

The links in the comments.

The photo by the author.

24/06/2025

Exploring extremely friendly and cozy town of Cegléd.
It has everything one could wish for: baths, good food, wine... And stories that we can't wait to tell you.
Soon!

The book is scheduled for the release in Autumn 2025

23/06/2025

Dive into the amazing atmosphere from the launch of Issue 12 of Panel!

An amazing evening filled with talented authors, appreciative guests, and the joyful energy of the Panel team.

Take a look at some of the highlights from the event and visit our website for more.
Make sure you grab your printed copy of the new issue from our online store or from Massolit, or download a digital version!

Photos by Daria Ra.

Follow us for news: more events and releases are coming in the Fall!

Thank you!

20/06/2025

It was such a great turnout yesterday!
We appreciate it a lot that so many people showed up and chose to spend their evening with us!

Photos are coming soon.

The digital version of the new Panel is available for downloading from the website.
https://panel-magazine.com/product/issue-12-pdf/

If you, like us, prefer a printed form, stop by Massolit Books & Café in Budapest and get one.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

We are a literature association focused on English writing in Central and Eastern Europe, where English is not at all a native language. That’s why we chose “Language” as our theme. It’s just one word, but it allows for endless interpretation.

19/06/2025

19/06/2025

We shipped the first batch today!

Order your copy online or grab one tonight at Massolit Books & Café in Budapest

See you tonight at Panel Issue # 12 Launch!

12/06/2025

Thanks so much for including us!
"Nothing quite like this has ever been published about Budapest – especially not in English."
So true!

From striking photo collections and personal essays to a gripping slasher novel and a classic cookbook, here’s our list of Budapest-inspired reads.

10/06/2025

We've got a line-up for our release party Panel Issue # 12 Launch!

We will begin the evening with a workshop held by Maria Gyarmati, art director of the Panel Literature Association. Using AI and your imagination, Maria will demonstrate how words can be transformed into visual images—right on the spot.
The Panel team will introduce the new issue, its features, and its amazing contributors. We'll also talk a bit about our other current and future projects.

Contributors to the issue will read excerpts from their stories and poetry:
Russell Ridgeway, essay: “Language Always Works”
Paul Harrison, short story: “Twenty Forty-Eight, March the Fifteenth”
Timea Sipos, short story: “The Resemblance”
Patrycja Rup, poetry
Ági Vedres, poetry
Our editor Laila Niklaus will read poetry by authors who can’t be present at the launch.

We believe it'll be a great night! We'll see you in a week!

07/06/2025

Unbelievable!
A year ago, "Narratives of Budapest" was released!
Our love letter to Budapest. A unique edition which brought under one cover experts on art, culture, and history; personal essays on the city and its hidden corners; features about different ways to live in the city, and to be devoted to it.

We sold enough copies throughout the year to justify a second print run, as we want "Narratives" to be a sustainable and continuous experience for anyone visiting Budapest or residing here.
You can still find copies in the independent bookstores, museums, and galleries across the city.

IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ONLINE STORE!
🎉 To celebrate the first anniversary of our beloved edition, we’re offering a 20% discount for online orders!
👉 ORDER "NARRATIVES OF BUDAPEST" UNTIL THE END OF JUNE AND GET 20% OFF.
https://panel-magazine.com/product/narratives-of-budapest/

AND THIS IS NOT ALL…
We are coming up with the sequel: "Narratives of Hungary"!
The collection is shaping up nicely and coming to our favorite stage—editing. :)) Soon we will be ready to share the details.
We’re so grateful we get to tell these stories. 💙

04/06/2025

A limited number of printed copies of the newest Panel are now available for order through our online store.
If you won’t be attending the launch party in Budapest but would like a copy, you can place an order via the link — we’ll ship it directly to you.

If you are in Budapest and will be at the launch - DM so we reserve a copy for you.

The link is in the first comment.

03/06/2025

First copies arrived today!