Max Fenyő ( Fenyő Miksa pronounced > 'Fen-yeo Mick-sha'): The Great Hungarian Jewish Intellectual
By Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő ( M.F.'s grandson )
Introduction
Max Fenyő, my grandfather whom I knew in person till I was eight, achieved many great and very important things for Hungarian society and intellectual culture at the beginning of the 20th Century (mostly in Budapest), and yet neither the history books nor the mass media appropriately reflect the truth of his biographical record. Whatever the reason for this seeming oversight, my grandfather’s role in forming modern Hungarian society, in inspiring deep intellectual introspect in the minds of Hungarian-born Nobel prize winning scientists and others ( many of whom my grandfather met and knew), artists, musicians and intellectuals, including such great individuals as (note: in Hungarian surnames come first, but I am using the English rule here: surnames last ) Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók, John ( János ) von Neumann, Albert Szent-Györgyi , George Dewey Cukor, Endre Ady, Mihály Babits, Margit Kaffka, Hannah Szenes, József Pulitzer, Leó Szilárd, Dénes Gábor, Ferenc Chorin, Manfred Weiss, Victor Vasarely, Ernő Rubik, Imre Kertész, and countless others, is virtually ignored. This website is an effort to make amends.
Among his most important endeavors and accomplishments was his key role in the launching, financing, managing and editing of the NYUGAT periodical (Eng. "The WEST"), which was ( and still is ) Hungary’s most important social and cultural periodical, which gave a voice to the most significant and impressive of Hungarian writers in the first half of the 20th Century, such greats as Endre Ady, and others.
Max Fenyő was instrumental to the survival of the NYUGAT in its early years, what with his ability to keep the peace between the other founding editors, between Hugo Ignotus and Erno Osvat. Furthermore, Max Fenyő’s quintessential role in the early development and management of the Hungarian Federation of Industrialist (GYOSZ) and his influence on Hungarian Corporate customs practices and methods, without which Hungary might not have developed a relatively sophisticated and successful industrial economic basis, is also not sufficiently appreciated.
Most significantly was Max Fenyő's daring 1934 study of Hitler’s and the Nazi's origins and the danger it posed for Europe, making Fenyő one of the few Members of Parliament to openly caution Hungary against making an alliance with the Nazis and for which Fenyo ended up on Hitler’s “most wanted dead or alive” list!
And then there is the importance of his friendship and support of Endre Ady ( Hun. Ady Endre ), perhaps the most important and deep-minded of Hungary’s poet laureates, a poet-genius who foresaw Hungary’s future place in a united and civilized greater Europe.
All of which make Max Fenyő more than worthy of being a potential role-model for young Hungarians.
His contemporaries considered my grandfather to be a very responsible and relatively wise man, yet a man of great humility and of a high gentlemanly calibre virtually non-existent in today’s rat race world. As a writer he had the odd sense to concentrate on quality at the risk of never becoming a prolific writer, thus there are only five major works authored by him. Due to the fact that two horrible and unspeakably inhuman World Wars and several brutal armed revolts, not to mention having to hide from the NAZI’s Gestapo, the Arrow Cross and later having to go into exile to avoid being sent to Siberia by the Stalinists, robbed my grandfather of the time and means he would have needed to join the ranks of Hungary’s great prolific writers, such as Zsigmond Moricz, one of the last most significant editors of the NYUGAT, my grandfather is not as exalted as he should be. And my grandfather’s wartime memoir, "Az Elsodort Orszag" (Eng. "The Swept Country"), speaks tons of the kind of thoughts and emotions that such a catastrophic tragedy gives rise to.
Max Fenyő worked hard to bridge the Hungarian Jewish community with the rest of Hungary and to dispel ridiculous misperceptions, prejudices and deliberately fabricated lies about Jews and Judaism. True, he himself had his own problems dealing with his Jewish identity, but his attempt at assimilation, a failure in my estimation, was always well intended, with the goal of social harmony and tolerance in mind, and was based on his inner affinity to the best of many of his ancestral Jewish traditions.
All the aforementioned is clearly reflected by the fact that, while Max Fenyő is celebrated and commemorated in such prestigious reference books as The Hungarian Jewish Lexicon and is the only Fenyő mentioned in the Hungarian version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (Max Fenyo is also mentioned in the original English version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica in its reference article on Hungarian Literature), his brave criticism of Hitler and his unwillingness to fully cooperate with the Horthy regime are not adequately mentioned or highlighted in the history books and media.
Max Fenyő was not a very prolific writer at all, thus there are only five significant books to his name, most published by the NYUGAT Publishing firm that he helped found and which published some 412 books in all, many with uniquely beautiful covers that are treasured by today’s connoisseur book collectors. Max Fenyo’s study on the life of Casanova, and another on the politics of Hitler were notable books published by the NYUGAT Publishing firm. His World War Two diary, his memories and notes on the NYUGAT years and his travel book on Italy, for which he received Italy's most prestigious literary award, were published elsewhere.
What Max Fenyő lacked in quantity of books written he well compensated for in the quality and style of his writing. I find his writing to be spicy, humorous and thought provoking.
My grandfather knew how to be serious and yet politely playful and humorous. It is known that if he wanted to test the trustworthiness of a new acquaintance and potential friend that he would invite them to visit him in his home's private library and ask them how many of the famous French historian Ernest Renan’s works they had they read ( Renan was required reading among the intellectuals of the day ), deliberately pointing to a volume with a fictional title that was made to look like another of Renan’s works. Some of the unsuspecting victims of my grandfather’s test would proudly claim to have read all of Renan's volumes on that shelf, including the fake one. In which case my grandfather would then ask his guest to take it off the shelf and page through it, only for the ex-guest to discover that it contained nothing but blank pages and to be briskly escorted to the door after having to explain all those blank pages.
My grandfather did not have much time left in his old age to spend conversing with me, and I was too young to engage him in anything beyond simple talk, but I know that even when I was a little baby he would whisper his wise Jewish Hungarian ideas into my head, leaving me to subconsciously discover them years later, after I had learned the language. These and other special memories connect me to my grandfather eternally. Since some of Max Fenyő’s writing was risky he applied various pseudonyms such as Ferenc Dallos, Mihaly Kuthy, Denes Egressy, Marton Pallya, Balassi Menyhart, and Remete Gaspar. In the end, whatever future generations will be saying about my grandfather, Max Fenyo was a man of great dignity, at times naïve in his love of Italy (he once donated to the erection of a statue for Mussolini long before the outbreak of the war, but deeply regretted doing so later on), but all in all a dedicated humanist and a gentleman with a sense of style and substance worthy of being a role model for intellectuals to come.
Melykut Years 1877-1887
1877 Maximillian Fleischmann ( Max adopted the surname Fenyő at the time he converted out of his birthright Judaism into an Agnostic 'Catholic' ), was born on the 8th of December 1877 in Mélykut, Bács-Bodrog Vármegyeben, Jankovac (Bács-Kiskun Megye, Jánoshalma), to Fulop (Philip) Fleischmann and Melczer Louiza, quality Jewish tailors. He was the youngest son of a family of seven children. Max Fenyő will later write in his autobiography how wonderful to be born in a place who name in English is the equivalent for “Deep Well”, the small town of Mélykut ( pronounced "mae-kooht"), a predominantly Catholic community, with a significant minority of around 25 Jewish families at the time, located today near the Hungary's current southern border with Serbia ( at the time Hungary was much larger and included part of what is now Serbia ). Max Fenyő recalls that his father was not a religious man and that he was not influenced to follow his ancestor’s Jewish religious heritage. Max Fenyő found himself attracted to the colorful multi-layered dress of the Catholic girls going to church on Sundays. However he mentions in his diary his fondness for his mother’s interest in following tradition during the traditions of the Jewish Passover. As already mentioned, eventually Max Fenyő would convert to Catholicism, albeit an agnostic at that, more out of social advantage than any religious conviction. Nevertheless, it would do him no good when the Nazis were searching for him in the final months of the war.
1882 Max Fenyő learns to read at a level of a ten year old by the age of five!
1883 Max Fenyő reads and explains Sandor Petofi’s “Janos Vitez” to his grandma at six.
Budapest Years, 1887-1948.
1887 At age 10 Max Fenyő, praised by his school-teachers, is enrolled by his father to study at the Lutheran Gymnasium in Budapest. Half of the school’s pupils are from well-to-do Jewish families; the rest are mostly Protestants. Max will excel in Hungarian and Geography. His uncle Weil, his father’s brother, provides him room & board with his Uncle's family in their two-bedroom apartment at Kiraly utca 15. This building is called Splenyi House and belonged to Baron Splenyi, who was the very famous Hungarian actress Lujza Blaha’s husband. And this building also housed at its street level The Blue Cat nightclub ( a naughty little place ), visited by rich businessmen and nobility alike.
1891 Max Fenyő is awarded by his teacher Albert Lehr the school’s famous Dobrentej Dij for his mastery of the Hungarian language.
1892 The Magyar 'Geniusz' ( Eng. "Hungarian Genius" ) is launched ( Max Fenyő writes for it).
1894 Max Fenyő's last year at the Lutheran Central Gymnasium. 1895 Miksa graduates from the Lutheran Central Gymnasium and enters ELTE LawSchool.
1896 Max Fenyő witnesses the great Millenary events in Budapest: which were truly spectacular by international events standards!
1897 Max Fenyő is now 20. Though he is relatively poor friends invite him to the theatres and other cultural events where he gets his first impressions of the cultural scene. Has his first writing published in Magyar Geniusz. Fenyo will have his articles, theatre play reviews, and poems published in the Magyar Szalon, Magyar Geniusz and Budapest Szemle.
1899 Max Fenyő earns his Masters Law Diploma from The University of Budapest’s Law School ( ELTE ).
1900 Max Fenyő first meets with Ferenc Chorin, who will later on play a significant role in Miksa’s life and career at the GYOSZ.
1901 Max Fenyő earns his Doctors Law Diploma from ELTE Law School and is made a Barrister at Law.
1902 The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ) is established. Erno Osvat becomes the editor of the Magyar Geniusz.
1903 Max Fenyő, age 26, gets married to his first wife, his beautiful Jewish girlfriend from Melykut, Aurelia (Rella) Schoffer, and takes his first trip abroad, to Vienna, Prague and Berlin, on their honeymoon. Miksa’s attempt to make a living as a practicing lawyer fails and he is forced to close his small office and work for other law firms. The Magyar Geniusz is terminated.
1904 Max Fenyő’s first son, George Fenyo ( Gyorgy ), is born. Miksa takes on a job offer as a secretary at The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists (GYOSZ).
1905 Max Fenyő’s second son, Ivan Fenyo, is born. The Figyelo, precursor to the NYUGAT (WEST), is launched by Max Fenyő and others. Miksa also gets involved in the formation of the Galilei Circle, a group that works towards creating peaceful understanding and coexistence between Hungarian Christians and Jews.
1907 Max Fenyő is now 30. During the next ten years he will travel many times to Italy, especially Venice, and Rome and other cities in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and other neighboring countries, almost all without any documents (passports). The Figyelo is terminated.
1908 Max Fenyő founds the NYUGAT literary and cultural periodical with Hugo Ignotus (pronounced Ig-know-toosh ), its Chief Editor till 1929, and Osvat Erno ( Eng. Ernie Oshvat ), co-Editor with Miksa till his untimely suicide in 1929, at the Café Bristol. First edition of the NYUGAT is published on the 1st of January, 1908. Most of the NYUGAT work is done at the Szabadság Cafe ( Eng. Cafe Freedom ) and The New York Café. It must be noted that Budapest's best Cafes were on a par with the best Cafes of Vienna, Paris and London! These were places were famous and/or important Writers, Poets, Pundits, Intellectuals and Artists, mostly men, would sit down and exchange ideas. Through the NYUGAT Max Fenyő gets to know and befriend many of the greatest intellectuals and writers of the time in Budapest, such as the feminist writer Margit Kaffka, the poet Mihaly Babits (who will become the godfather of his last child Mario...my father ), and many other greats. He also gets to know many of the great musicians ( Bartok, Kodaly ) and other important social and political personalities of the times. He makes friendly acquaintanceship with Thomas Mann and Freud too!
1909 Max Fenyő has a key role in the founding of the NYUGAT Publishing firm that will end up publishing some 412 books during its forty year history, all written by some of the best Hungarian and foreign writers of the times.
1910 Max Fenyő’s daughter Anna Fenyo (Panni) is born.
1911 Max Fenyő is the progenitor of Magyar Gyaripar, the official journal of the GYOSZ.
1912 Max Fenyő’s famous study on “Casanova” is published by the NYUGAT Publishing firm, of which Max Fenyő is a founder, major shareholder and editor.
1914 The Archduke of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo and World War One breaks out. Max Fenyő is nearly attacked by a large mob of pro-war demonstrators while riding a horse carriage across Margit Island Bridge, some of them who take offence to Max Fenyő’s unwillingness to join them in their rage. Fortunately a distant acquaintance recognizes Max Fenyő and saves him from the danger.
1915 Max Fenyő publishes a short book on Hungarian-German Customs ( cross-border mercantile trade ) issues.
1917 Max Fenyő is now 40. The Russian Revolution shakes the world. Endre Ady, already in very bad health, requests that Max Fenyő name his first grandson after him ( that happens to be me ). Neither of his first three children will ever have children of their own (only later on in 1964 will he be able to oblige Ady’s request). In the spring of 1917 Max Fenyő is appointed General-Director of the GYOSZ. Max Fenyő is now able to afford to travel throughout Central-and Western Europe, sometimes out of his position with the GYOSZ and sometimes strictly as a private individual on holiday.
1918 World War One comes to an end. The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy has seized to exist and much of historic Hungary is annexed to neighboring countries, some of this was done in a sincere but ill-devised effort to prevent another world war. Ady is depressed by the annexation of his native Transylvania from the rest of Hungary. Max Fenyő is named Minister of Commerce in the short-lived 24 hour Hadik government. The Chrysanthenum Revolution in Hungary breaks out and is soon followed by a reign of terror. Admiral Horthy, a conservative nationalist who applies certain fascist methods ( and who will end up ruling Hungary for the next 26 years ), enters Budapest and stops the White Terror with the help of Romanian troops.
1919 Endre Ady dies, at age 41, of severe health complications that began with his acquiring Syphilis many years earlier. The death of Ady deeply upsets Max Fenyő, who was not only an admirer and trusted friend to the poet, but like Baron Hatvany, one of the poet’s mentors.
1920 During the next ten years Miksa is busy working for the GYOSZ, writing articles and contributions to the NYUGAT and raising his children.
1921 Max Fenyő once more has a key role as a senior contributor to the NYUGAT, but not as an Editor.
1925 Max Fenyő’s role as co-publisher of the NYUGAT ends.
1927 Max Fenyő is now 50. Along with the Hungarian ex-Minister of Justice, Emil Nagy, Miksa, as Director of The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists, writes a criticism of the way Hungary was over-punished for its role in World War One, titled “Trianon And Its Consequences” (in French and Italian), which places Max Fenyő clearly in the camp of those in the majority of Hungarian Jewish intellectuals who oppose the manner in which greater Hungary was divided ( which was clearly never really appreciated by those who murdered tens of thousands of Jews and sent hundreds of thousands more off to the Concentration Camps during WW2 ).
1929 Max Fenyő is shocked by Erno Osvat’s suicide in October 1929, following the premature death of Osvat’s young daughter. As of 1929 Max Fenyő and Hugo Ignotus, shocked by Osvat’s untimely departure, will no longer be directly involved in the life of the NYUGAT. The poet Mihaly Babits becomes the new editor of the NYUGAT, working with co-Editors Oszkar Gellert and Zsigmond Moricz. Max Fenyő’s writings appear in papers like the Esti Kurir.
1930 The Great Depression that began in America devastates Hungary along with the rest of the world and the GYOSZ, greatly respected by many for its dedicated support of Hungarian intellectuals and writers, is somewhat effective in helping Hungary cope with the dire economic situation.
1931 Max Fenyő is elected as an independent representative to the Upper House of the Hungarian Parliament. Rella, Miksa’s first wife, suffers in a car accident that leaves her living in constant, extreme pain.
1933 Max Fenyő’s first love and wife, Rella, dies. Her grave is marked by an angel statue created on commission by Fulop Beck, one of those artists most closely associated with the NYUGAT. The GYOSZ is instrumental in helping thwart the rise of an even more extreme right-wing government in Hungary, and subsequently the GYOSZ is marginalized and attacked by the extreme right.
1934 Max Fenyő marries Maria Seyringer, whose mother, Helena Seyringer is a top secretary working at the GYOSZ, in the fall of 1934. The church ceremony is conducted by Father Emil Kriegsau, who turns coats from a priest who initially promoted interfaith coexistence to a supporter of Hitler (!), disregarding the fact that Max Fenyő had donated tons of bricks to the building of his church. As an independent member of the Hungarian Parliament Max Fenyő writes a critical and cautionary study on “Hitler”, the pagan origins of the Nazi inner elite, and the dictator’s dangerous plans for Europe. He is virtually the only Member of Parliament to dare criticize the Nazi Regime ( The Turd Reich ). It is published through the NYUGAT Publishing house and copies are provided to other members of the parliament. For this Max Fenyő will end up being placed second after Raoul Wallenberg on sick Adolf Hitler’s personal “Most Wanted Dead or Alive" List!
1935 At 58 Max Fenyő’s third son, first and only child from his second marriage, Mario, is born on the 19th of September 1935 at Janos Korhaz ( Eng. "John's Hospital" ) in Budapest. This will be his final year as a Member of Parliament. Max Fenyő is listed in the famous London publication titled “Who’s Who”.
1937 Max Fenyő is now 60. His significant writing on Istvan Bethlen is published in the NYUGAT. The Vienna-based Central European Times newspaper lists Miksa in its annual, large-volume publication “Who’s Who In Central And East Europe”. Miksa Fenyo’s office address is at Budapest V., Akademia ut. 1. Anti-Jewish laws are passed that make life very difficult and by 1943 will make life very dangerous for Max Fenyő and his family.
1938 Max Fenyő is forced to resign from his position as Director of The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists, as a result of new, anti-Jewish laws passed by the Hungarian parliament. Max Fenyő, along with his wife Maria and son Mario, move into their new residence at Kutvolgyi u. 43 in the 12th District, a three-story villa on the side of one of Buda’s hills overlooking the city, built by the architect Bela Barat.
1939 World War Two breaks out.
1941 United States enters the World War. The NYUGAT’s final year in publication. Further anti- Jewish laws are passed this and the following year.
1943 Max Fenyő’s youngest son is placed with his wife’s half sister Edit Rasko and her husband and told to use his middle name Denes (Denis) while Max Fenyő, along with his first three children and other relatives are all forced into hiding from the Nazis and the Arrow Cross.
1944 While in hiding for his life Max Fenyő starts writing “Az Elsodort Orszag” (The Swept Country), his WWII diary, on the 22nd of June. The Nazis and Arrow Cross steal Max Fenyő’s villa, other real estate and all his belongings. Many of the GYOSZ’s and the NYUGAT’s intellectuals and leaders are forced to hide or escape in exile or are murdered.
1945 Max Fenyő finishes writing his diary on the 19th of January 1945. World War Two ends. Max Fenyő tries to revive the GYOSZ (The Hungarian Federation of Industrialists) as President and Commercial Director of the federation, but following anti-capitalist attacks against the GYOSZ throughout the next three years will force the GYOSZ to dissolve itself in 1948. He was also the Managing Director of Signer & Wolfner and wrote for the periodical Haladás (Progress).
1946 First edition of his WW2 diary “Az Elsodort Orszag” is published. Max Fenyő considers this his best writing ever.
1948 Max Fenyő, 71, is forced to flee Budapest after he is informed that Stalin has plans for him to be sent off to Siberia, for his role as Director-General of the Hungarian Federation of Industrialists! By years end the NYUGAT Publishing firm will seize to exist.
Rome and Paris Years, 1948-1952.
1949 Max Fenyő moves to his favorite city of Rome and spends hours doing research and reading at the Italian National Library. He is invited to become a Minister in the new Jewish State of Israel by Ben Gurion, but refuses on account of his concerns about violence following the creation of the new state and his personal feelings about having converted to Catholicism more than 30 years earlier. Even so, Miksa will keep close friendships with some of his contemporaries who will take part in building the new nation.
1951 Max Fenyő finishes writing his first novel, “Jezus is DP volt” (Eng. "Jesus was also a Displaced Person"), while living in Rome, with Maria and Mario. The novel was only published in 2002 ( courtesy of The Max Fenyő Family Trust: myself and my father). Another unfinished novel titled “Haláltánc” (Eng. "Dance of Death") has not yet been published. Max Fenyő, along with Maria and Mario, moves to Paris.
New York City Years, 1953-1969.
1953 Max Fenyő and his family arrive in New York City, and here Max Fenyő will spend most of the rest of his life reminiscing and watching his son Mario’s career and family life develop. His residence in New York is at 26 East 93rd Street.
1956 Max Fenyő is deeply saddened by the tragedy of the 1956 Uprising in Hungary against Stalinism and the deaths of many innocents.
1957 Max Fenyő is now 80.
1960 Max Fenyő’s book on the history of the NYUGAT is published by Patria Press, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
1961 Max Fenyő’s son Mario Denis Fenyő earns his M.A. degree at Yale University and finds work at The National Archives in Washington, D.C. till 1967.
1963 Max Fenyő begins writing his autobiography at age 86. His travel memoir of Italy, “Ami Kimaradt Az Oddyseabol” (Eng. “What Was Left Out of the Odyssey”) is published by GRIFF Publishers in Munich. His son Mario marries Ileana Lavinia Viscal y Garriga ( my mother ), on the 28th of May 1963.
1964 Max Fenyő is awarded Italy’s highest and most prestigious literary award, The Rome Award for Literature 1964, for his travel book and memoirs on Italy titled “Ami Kimaradt Az Oddyseabol”. Max Fenyő’s first grandson, Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyo, is born on the 23rd of July 1964 in Washington, D.C.. His best friend Ferenc Chorin (1879-1964) dies in New York. Miksa writes a long article about the life of Ferenc Chorin.
1966 Max Fenyő is officially invited to visit Budapest, Hungary in the summer of 1966 by Janos Kadar’s Minister of Culture and Education, the famous writer Dezso Keresztury. During his brief visit he is the subject of great media attention and public interest. Erzsebet Vezer, an important researcher of 20th Century Hungarian literature, conducts a radio interview with Max Fenyő. Max Fenyő’s son Mario earns his PhD in History at The American University in Washington, D.C..
Vienna Years, 1969-1972.
1969 Max Fenyő moves to Vienna, partly in protest against the war in Vietnam and partly to be close to his native Hungary in his final years. His last residence is at Seilerstatte Strasse 10, in the heart of old Vienna, in the same building where his old-time friend Joseph Litvan lives, who is married to Agi Fenyo, the daughter of Bella Fenyo, one of Miksa’s three sisters.
1970 Max Fenyő’s second and last grandson, Gian-Carlo Babits Fenyo, is born on October the 21st. In August Max Fenyő gives his collection of priceless authentic Ady letters and poems, a beautiful pastel of Ady’s last wife, Csinszka, and other invaluable mementos that are currently prized by The Petofi Museum of Literature.
1971 In the summer of 1971 Max Fenyő meets his son Mario, his daughter in law (Ileana) and his two grandsons for the last time (before this time he would meet his grandson(s) and son twice a year). A photo of Jean-Pierre playing the violin for his grandfather is shown in an expat Hungarian newspaper.
1972 Max Fenyő dies at the age of 95 on the 4th of April 1972 in Vienna, at his last residence on Seilerstatte Strasse, survived by his second wife Ria ( short form for Maria ) Fenyő (nee. Maria Seyringer), 65, their mutual son Mario Denis Fenyő (Mario Denes F.), 37, and his two grandsons, Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő, 8, and Gian-Carlo Babits Fenyo, 2, as well as his first three children, Ivan Fenyő, George (Gyorgy) Fenyő and Anna Fenyő (Panni). Yale University Press publishes Prof. Mario D. Fenyő’s book, “Hitler, Horthy and Hungary”, which was reviewed by Max Fenyő before his death.
Afterwards
1975 Max Fenyő’s memories and history of the NYUGAT is reworked by Erzsebet Vezer, a top researcher at the Petofi Museum of Literature, and published by Akademia Kiado. 1986 Max Fenyő’s wartime diary, “Az Elsodort Ország” is reprinted forty years later.
1990 The Hungarian Parliament, unlike the Czech one, passes a law that, in effect, denies natural property rights to thousands, including the Max Fenyő family. This huge unethical 'mistake' has cost the family of Max Fenyő dearly!
1993 Max Fenyő’s second wife, Ria ( Maria ), dies in the same apartment in Vienna where Max Fenyő passed away.
1994 Argumentum Kiado (publisher), Budapest, publishes Max Fenyő’s “Onéletrajzom”, an incomplete autobiography. It is based on contributions he wrote to Uj Latohatár in the 1960s. (Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő publishes his first philosophy book, “Infinitism: Secret Key to the Doors of Wisdom” ( current title: "The Most Important Thought" ), in which he explains how the concept of the infinite can be used in increasing open minded thinking and wisdom in society in general.)
1996 Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő is invited to Melykut, the birthplace of his grandfather, as guest of honor in the dedication and renaming of the town’s main library, now named the Max Fenyő Library of Mélykut, and gifts the town a marble side-profile relief of his grandfather that he himself has created and which is placed next to the entrance of the library. An attempt by J.P. Fenyő to get the Hungarian Postal Office to plan on printing a commemorative NYUGAT stamp set fails. It would have consisted of five stamps for the year 2008, one bearing the cover of the first issue of NYUGAT, one with the poet Ady, and the others bearing the pictures of Miksa Fenyo, Erno Osvat and Hugo Ignotus as they appeared around the time of the first NYUGAT issue.
1998 Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő uses his name and associated influence to insure that an attempt to revive the NYUGAT does not become a form of literary necrophilia and disrespect to the national treasure that the NYUGAT is.
2000 Jean-Pierre Ady Fenyő helps in the production and release of the first full CD- ROM documentation of the NYUGAT, a monumental work of cultural preservation produced by Arcanum Adatbazis (directed by company owner and director Sandor Biszak), containing all 667 issues (1908-1941) and the voice of Max Fenyő.
2008 The 100th Anniversary of the birth of the NYUGAT is to be celebrated. Unfortunately not exactly in the best possible way; due to a nasty set of interventions..
