Milan Kundera, Stanisław Lem, Silvester Lavrik, as well as Géza Szőcs, Ottó Tolnai, András Visky, and Mór Bán—the iconic creators of Central European literature and their captivating works—are recommended by the MOL – New Europe Foundation at Libri Bookstores. This curated selection will be featured in prominent locations in a total of 10 Libri stores throughout June.
The MOL – New Europe Foundation recommends iconic Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian, Polish, and Hungarian diaspora authors and their emblematic works to readers at Libri Bookstores. As part of the newly launched spotlight, popular Central European authors’ books will be featured in 10 Libri stores: in Budapest at the Mammut, Allee, Etele Plaza, Árkád, and Duna Plaza shopping centers, as well as in the Debrecen, Kecskemét, Győr, Szeged, and Eger locations. At these venues, readers can find the curated selection on the new releases shelves until the end of June, accompanied by attention-grabbing stickers and complimentary bookmarks provided by the MOL – New Europe Foundation. The initiative aims to draw readers’ attention to the most significant works from Hungary and other countries in the Central European region.
The following works are included in the promotion:
- Mór Bán: Hunyadi
Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Silvester Lavrík: The Last k.u.k. Baroness
- Stanislaw Lem: Solaris
- Vesna Lemaić: Szíves fogadtatás
- Géza Szőcs: Collected Poems
- Ottó Tolnai : Wilhelm-dalok
- Zsolna Ugron: A nádor asszonyai
- András Visky: Kitelepítés
Even from the titles alone, it is immediately clear how exciting and diverse the region’s literature is. Stories rooted in deeply ingrained, familiar traditions are often characterized by subtle irony, melancholy, and social experiences embedded in individual fates. These works do more than tell stories—they raise broader questions about memory, power, freedom, and the search for one’s place in the heart of Europe.
“At Libri, we consider it especially important to highlight the uniquely distinctive Central European perspective in our offerings. The MOL – New Europe Foundation’s selection fits perfectly with our ‘Year of Reading’ campaign launched this year, through which our key goal is to explore a new region of the world each month, shine a spotlight on its literature, and showcase both well-known and lesser-known works. With this newly launched initiative, we specifically aim to introduce the distinguished authors of the Central European region to our readers,” says Orsolya Stefanie Ludvig, Libri’s Marketing and Communications Director.
“The AGORA program of the MOL – New Europe Foundation is a symbolic yet vibrant cultural community space where the spirit of Central Europe comes alive. The focus is on topics that transcend national borders and deeply shape the region’s identity—whether in literature, music, the arts, or community traditions. Our supported projects draw from Central Europe’s shared historical heritage, creating opportunities for dialogue, creation, and cross-border regional collaboration. We plan to complement our June selection of Central European books available at Libri with new volumes in October, offering readers inspiring encounters with the creators and their stories,” emphasizes Erzsébet Lávich, CEO of the MOL – New Europe Foundation.
The MOL – New Europe Foundation’s selection will be featured in 10 Libri Bookstores in June and October.
