Debrecen4U September 16, 2025

János Térey was remembered in Debrecen

The outstanding figure of Hungarian literary history would have turned fifty-five on September 14. On the sad anniversary, István Kemény, the József Attila Prize-winning poet, gave a memorial speech as the closing chord of the book festival in the Térey Book Corner.

“Success resists all blackmail”—this was one of János Térey’s thoughts that was expressed on Sunday afternoon in Debrecen, in the Térey Book Corner. The 55th anniversary of the birth of the Debrecen writer and poet was commemorated by his family members, friends, and colleagues.

“True remembrance and keeping in the presence”—this is how Deputy Mayor István Puskás described the meeting, which took place for the sixth time. “It started in a summer atmosphere at the beginning of the week, and today, on a rainy and sad Sunday, this year’s Térey Book Festival ends. When we first gathered at the birthplace on Kétmalom Street in 2020, we did so to commemorate, to build a cult in Debrecen, and to make this a gathering about keeping János’s memory present. Let this be the case not only today, but every day of the year, when we listen to Depeche Mode or read János Térey,” he concluded his thoughts.

The memorial speech on this anniversary was given by the Attila Prize-winning poet István József Kemény, a close friend of the celebrated artist. “In December 1999, we arranged a meeting in Dresden so that János could show me one of the martyr cities of the carpet bombings of World War II. In the middle of the city stood a gigantic panel block, surrounded by a field of ruins, and as we wandered around, János recalled the most horrific moments of the attack. On this dark and cold evening, we had to look for a church. It must be here somewhere,” he was saying.

Without wifi and a map, we had no chance of finding it, as the atheist GDR had no intention of opening the church; we were sure it was deserted. I could almost hear its chattering teeth in the pitch darkness as it searched for the entrance. One of the doors was indeed not locked. I followed it, sighing, ‘Come what must come.’ That evening, a miracle had to happen: it was warm inside, with subdued lighting, a symphony orchestra, at least five hundred people, and reverent silence. Two chairs were waiting for us, and the Advent concert was to begin with the music of Bach,” Kemény recalled, who immortalized the evening in verse eleven years later: “János, I rarely say such things; the heavens have entrusted you with a key.”

“The most beautifully named Hungarian street is Kétmalom Street: János Térey had several mills grinding in his head at once, but at least two. One is the pain of perishability, the tragic attunement, and the clarity itself. The other is the constant impatience: to be where things are happening. To be there and not only to be informed about current events but also to have a precise hand on the pulse of the era, day by day, second by second.” István Kemény recalled that Térey brought an unmistakable language to Hungarian literary life in the 90s; he was a creator who could be recognized from two lines. After subjectively outlining the celebrated creator’s oeuvre, Kemény recollected that his autobiography, entitled “Boldogh-ház, Kétmalom Street,” is partly about the psyche of Debrecen: as if he were encouraging a six-hundred-year-old city to follow his example, make a self-confession, speak out, and tell its past.

“He searched for the soul of his hometown six years ago, when he died in 2019. They say that great poets are also often forgotten for years, and if their memory survives this, they are reborn. János Térey—as in so many things—is an exception: he was not forgotten. The proof is the Térey Book Festival and this day here, on the most beautifully named Hungarian street,” István Kemény concluded his thoughts.

After the commemoration, a chamber exhibition, “From Wagner to Depeche Mode,” opened in the Térey Book Corner. The exhibition was opened by poet Zoltán Poós. The old friend and colleague held an intimate, dignified, long exhibition opening with a special atmosphere, interwoven with personal stories. It was as if the audience had fallen into a quiz game, revealing to them how integral a part of János Térey’s life music was and from what source he drew the pop cultural references that weave through his work.

In addition to the great classics (Bach, Wagner) and the important Hungarian performers of his youth (Bonanza Banzai, Ákos, Napoleon Boulevard, and of course Sexepil), we heard about how he incorporated pop music as a theme into his poetry, as well as the characters he loved or really disliked. This lyric includes Amber Smith, Ganxsta Zolee, Kartel, Uncle Tibi Dévényi, Pulp, Smith, and the biggest icons: The Cure, Depeche Mode, and Sisters of Mercy.

Sunday did not become less sad when the rain stopped, but it did help to place fresh wreaths next to the memorial plaque of the birth house on Kétmalom Street. The memorial week continued with the presentation of the volume entitled “Oedipus or Creon?” by János Térey and György Karsai. Literary historian Attila Simon had a conversation with Professor György Karsai. As the last stage of the program series, János Térey’s drama volume entitled “The Grass is Fatter in Sodom” was presented by literary historians Beatrix Kricsfalusi and Sándor Bazsányi.

With the support of the city of Debrecen, the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library organized the Térey Book Festival for the sixth time, entering into a dialogue with the work of the writer, poet, and translator born in the city. An important goal of the Book Festival is to draw the attention of citizens to the literary traditions of Debrecen from year to year. This year, two prominent literary scholars celebrating their jubilees—70-year-old Zoltán Bertha and 80-year-old Béla Márkus—were welcomed.

The rereading of the tragically deceased Éva Stetka’s poetry has also begun, interpreted by journalist László Reszegi. The Méliusz Juhász Péter Library has been enriched with another valuable legacy, as the artist József Tasnádi placed some of his literary and media works in the institution.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu