''The Paul Street Boys'' ( hu, A Pál utcai fiúk) is a youth novel by the Hungarian writer

Ferenc Molnár Ferenc Molnár ( , ; born Ferenc Neumann; 12 January 18781 April 1952), often anglicized as Franz Molnar, was a Hungarian-born author, stage-director, dramatist, and poet, widely regarded as Hungary’s most celebrated and controversial playw ...

, first published in 1906.

Plot outline

The novel is about schoolboys in

Józsefváros Józsefváros (german: Josefstadt) is the 8th district of Budapest, Hungary. It is the part of the city centre in the wider sense as one of the 18–19th century older suburbs, close to Belváros. Location The main streets in Józsefváros ...

neighbourhood of

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

and set in 1889. The Paul Street Boys spend their free time at the ''grund'', an empty lot that they regard as their "Fatherland". The story has two main protagonists, János Boka (the honourable leader of the Paul Street Boys) and Ernő Nemecsek (the smallest member of the group). When the "Redshirts"—another gang of boys, led by Feri Áts, who gather at the nearby botanical gardens—attempt to take over the ''grund'', the Paul Street Boys are forced to defend themselves in

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

fashion. Although the Paul Street Boys win the war, and little Nemecsek repeatedly demonstrates that his bravery and loyalty surpasses his size, the book ends in tragedy: Nemecsek dies of the pneumonia that he caught in the conflict.

Literary significance and criticism

Very popular in Hungary, it is considered as a classic book, and it is also one of the most famous Hungarian novels outside the country. It has been translated into many languages, and in several countries, it is a mandatory or recommended reading in schools. The first English translation was made by Louis Rittenberg and published in 1927, and later revised by George Szirtes for a re-release in 1994.

Erich Kästner Emil Erich Kästner (; 23 February 1899 – 29 July 1974) was a German writer, poet, screenwriter and satirist, known primarily for his humorous, socially astute poems and for children's books including '' Emil and the Detectives''. He received ...

took up the theme of two groups of boys conducting a "war" and using all the terminology of militarism and nationalism in ''

The Flying Classroom ''The Flying Classroom'' (German: ''Das fliegende Klassenzimmer'') is a 1933 novel for children written by the German writer Erich Kästner. In the book Kästner took up the predominantly British genre of the school story, taking place in a b ...

'', published just before the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...

won elections in Germany. Kästner was, however, less harsh with the character resembling Nemecsek, who in Kästner's version suffers no more than a broken leg. In

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, the book is part of

book report A book report is an essay discussing the contents of a book, written as part of a class assignment issued to students in schools. There is a difference between a book report and a book review. A report includes a larger outline, and a review stay ...

curriculum, and is very popular among elementary school pupils (a 2016 scholarly poll of 6th and 7th graders in

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enterta ...

found it to be comparable to ''

Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...

'' and ''

Diary of a Wimpy Kid ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' is an American children’s book series and media franchise created by author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney. The series follows Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who illustrates his daily life in a diary (although he const ...

''), and there have been multiple translations, the differences between which have attracted some scholarly attention. In

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, the book is considered a classic youth novel. A

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

version titled ''Mahanaim'' (Camps — also referencing a popular ball game) was published in 1940 and was popular for many years, with multiple reprints. A newer translation titled "The Boys from Paul Street" was published in 1984. A stage adaptation of the book by the Kibbutz theater started performing in 2016. In

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...

, the book became popular after

Ramil Safarov Ramil Sahib oghlu Safarov ( az, Ramil Sahib oğlu Səfərov, , born August 25, 1977) is an officer of the Azerbaijani Army who was convicted of the 2004 murder of Armenian Army Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan. During a NATO-sponsored training semi ...

translated it into the

Azerbaijani language Azerbaijani () or Azeri (), also referred to as Azeri Turkic or Azeri Turkish, is a Turkic language from the Oghuz sub-branch spoken primarily by the Azerbaijani people, who live mainly in the Republic of Azerbaijan where the North Azerbaija ...

during his sentence in Budapest. In

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...

, the book was published in April 2020 and the Translation team (to Mongolian) was awarded the

Hungarian Order of Merit The Hungarian Order of Merit ( hu, Magyar Érdemrend) is the fourth highest State Order of Hungary. Founded in 1991, the order is a revival of an original order founded in 1946 and abolished in 1949. Its origins, however, can be traced to the ...

by the decree of the President of Hungary on September 21, 2021.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

*'' A Pál utcai fiúk'' —

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

(Hungary, 1917), directed by

Béla Balogh Béla Balogh (1 January 1885 in Székesfehérvár – 30 March 1945 in Budapest) was a Hungarian film director, one of the most prominent of the early 20th century. He was prominent in both silent and voiced productions, and is most known ...

— First version of the story by Hungarian director

. *'' A Pál utcai fiúk'' —

(Hungary, 1924), directed by

, with György Faragó (''Nemecsek''),

Ernő Verebes Ernő Verebes (born Ernst Weiss, December 6, 1902 – June 13, 1971) was a Hungarian-American actor who began his career in Hungarian silent films in 1915. During his film career he worked and lived in Hungary, Germany and in the United States. ...

(''Boka''),

Ferenc Szécsi Ferenc Szécsi (11 July 1913 – 1 March 1974) was a Hungarian stage and film actor with one directing credit at the end of a long career. In 1916, at the age of three and credited as Szécsi Ferkó, he appeared in the film ''Elnémult harangok' ...

(''Geréb''), István Barabás (''Feri Áts''), Frigyes Pártos (''Csónakos''). — Second version of the story by Hungarian director

. *''

No Greater Glory ''No Greater Glory'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code allegorical anti-war film directed by Frank Borzage and based on the novel ''A Pál utcai fiúk'' by Ferenc Molnár, known in English as "The Boys of Paul Street." The film's box office performance ...

'' — film (USA, 1934), directed by

Frank Borzage Frank Borzage (; April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an Academy Award-winning American film director and actor, known for directing '' 7th Heaven'' (1927), '' Street Angel'' (1928), '' Bad Girl'' (1931), '' A Farewell to Arms'' (1932), ''Man's ...

and released by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

, with

George P. Breakston George Paul Breakston (January 22, 1920 – May 21, 1973) was a French-American actor, producer and film director, active in Hollywood from his days as a child actor in Andy Hardy films in the 1930s (where he played the character ''Beezy' ...

(''Nemecsek''),

Jimmy Butler Jimmy Butler III (born September 14, 1989) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Jimmy Buckets", he is a six-time NBA All-Star, a four-time All-NBA Team honore ...

(''Boka''),

Jackie Searl John E. Searl (July 7, 1921 – April 29, 1991) was an American actor. He portrayed bratty kids in several films, and often had only small roles, such as "Robin Figg" in 1934's '' Strictly Dynamite''. Early years His name is sometimes writte ...

(''Geréb''),

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

(''Feri Áts''),

Donald Haines Donald Haines (May 9, 1919 – February 20, 1943) was an American child actor who had recurring appearances in the ''Our Gang'' short subjects series from 1930 to 1933. He appeared in ''Our Gang'' during the early sound days along with Nor ...

(''Csónakos''). *'' I ragazzi della via Paal'' — film (Italy, 1935), directed by Alberto Mondadori and

Mario Monicelli Mario Alberto Ettore Monicelli (; 16 May 1915 – 29 November 2010) was an Italian film director and screenwriter and one of the masters of the ''Commedia all'Italiana'' (Comedy Italian style). He was nominated six times for an Oscar, and was awa ...

, with Giulio Tamagnini (''Nemecsek''),

Alberto Vigevani Alberto is the Romance version of the Latinized form (''Albertus'') of Germanic ''Albert''. It is used in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The diminutive forms are ''Albertito'' in Spain or ''Albertico'' in some parts of Latin America, Albertin ...

(''Boka''),

Giulio Macchi Giulio Macchi (; 1866–1935) was an Italian aeronautical engineer, the founder of ''Società Anonima Nieuport-Macchi'' (now Alenia Aermacchi). Macchi ran a small coachbuilder's works, ''Carrozzeria Fratelli Macchi'' (Macchi Brothers Coachworks) ...

(''Geréb''), Bruno Aghion (''Feri Áts''), Carlo Cartigliani (''Csónakos''). *'' A Pál-utcai fiúk'' — film (Hungary-USA, 1969), directed by

Zoltán Fábri Zoltán Fábri (15 October 1917 – 23 August 1994) was a Hungarian film director and screenwriter. His films '' The Boys of Paul Street'' (1969) and ''Hungarians'' (1978) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. ...

, with Anthony Kemp (''Nemecsek''),

William Burleigh William Burleigh (October 24, 1785 – July 2, 1827) was a United States representative from Maine. He was born in Northwood, New Hampshire, on October 24, 1785. He moved with his parents to Gilmanton, New Hampshire, in 1788 where he attended ...

(''Boka''),

John Moulder-Brown John Moulder-Brown (born 3 June 1953) is an English actor of television and film, known for his appearances in the films '' Deep End'', ''First Love'', '' Ludwig'' and '' The House That Screamed''. Biography Moulder-Brown was born in London an ...

(''Geréb''), Julien Holdaway (''Feri Áts''), Robert Efford (''Csónakos''). - The film was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

. *'' I ragazzi della via Pal'' —

TV film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

(Italy-Austria-Germany-Hungary, 2003), directed by

Maurizio Zaccaro Maurizio Zaccaro (born 8 May 1952 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian film director, cinematographer, film editor, and screenwriter. Biography Maurizio Zaccaro was born in Milan. After ending his study at the Milan Film School (1977) he took on wor ...

, with Gáspár Mesés (''Nemecsek''), Gáspár Csaba (''Boka''), Gergely Mészáros (''Geréb''), Daniel Lugosi (''Feri Áts''), Péter Ványi (''Csónakos''). *'' A Pál-utcai fiúk'' —

(Hungary, 2005), directed by

Ferenc Török Ferenc Török (born 3 August 1935) is a Hungarian modern pentathlete The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport consisting of fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country runni ...

, with Balázs Bojtár (''Nemecsek''), Krisztián Fekete (''Boka''), Milán Király (''Geréb''), Csaba Csuhai Csinos (''Feri Áts''), Róbert Rostási (''Csónakos'').A Pál utcai fiúk
(2005) in

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul Street Boys, The 1906 novels Hungarian novels Literary works by Ferenc Molnár Novels set in Budapest Young adult novels Novels set in the 19th century Hungarian novels adapted into films Hungarian children's literature 1906 children's books Novels set in the 1880s

Plot outline

Literary significance and criticism

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

See also

Further reading

References