After his debut, New Year Climb to Jasenina (2016), Jakub Juhász leaves the flooded hill country and descends down to the plains along the Ipel river, right into the centre of his hometown, in search of Sándor PetÅ‘fi and his legend, which becomes the backdrop to something more intimate. Part autobiographical chronicle, part biographical narrative and part bon vivant travelogue, the book speaks about the (im)possibility of a contemporary man's relationship to a historical figure and his mythologically conceived story.Â
"The Hungarian romantic poet Petöfi presents a cosmic – and comic – reference point which the author uses, revolves around, distances himself from and comes back to, although never quite becomes one with. Juhász' prose is full of dense descriptions, unexpeted pointes, and in-your-face ridicule which is, in fact, more of a clever and loving poke. PS is a tribute to the human geography of the °µÍø½ûÇø South, as the author calls the territory of his wanderings. In PS everyone finds a piece of their own world or of their cultural heritage – although in Juhász' depiction, there is no definite certainty. As the author writes: "I don't know where my roots are. I still haven't figured it out."