Michael T.G. Yepes's Books

Child of Europe

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Everything in this novel is fiction, except the “stage” upon which it is set, i.e., the mid-18th century. There were no Hungarian Jesuits in Antigua California, and Carlos Galante, S.J., aka Charles Galántay, exists only in my imagination. However, the fact remains that many of the California Jesuit Missionaries were Central Europeans by birth and education. Not wishing to step on any national toes, I found it best to invent a Jesuit for the purposes of this novel. A biography of Fr. F. Consag would have been my preferred vehicle, since he was born in Varazdin on the Croatian-Hungarian border, and taught for a year or so in Budapest at my old school, the former Jesuit College. But the Croatians’ jealously guarded him, so I decided to abandon that idea. The purpose of this novel was not to slavishly copy the style of the 18th-century letters, and thereby attempt to create an artistic forgery. Instead, I meant to pay homage to the period and the people; in a minor key Serge Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony was my unattainable model. Everything in this novel is invented, including F.X. Allegre and Professor T. Szegépy, whose name is simply a modified anagram of my own. Yes, the Professor missed the fact that Lt. Matthew Galántay was killed in the early part of the Seven Year War. This was understandable, if a little careless. Unlike writers of fiction, who can invent to their heart’s delight, historians are supposed to check all their facts. Perhaps he couldn’t conceive of such sustained duplicity on the part of a Jesuit, i.e., to keep writing to a woman (!) all those years. Even to an educated and worldly woman like Mathilda (Math) Galantay, Matthew’s (Matt) twin sister. And, of course, in 18th century florid handwriting (it is easy to overlook the difference between “Matt” and “Math.” Those who read the novel in manuscript, at least some of them, expressed concern and dissatisfaction regarding the rather abrupt ending of the story. But for once, I stuck close to the truth, the “returnees,” i.e., the repatriated Jesuit missionaries generally faded into the background, and thereafter, the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars closed the curtain on the 18th century. As far as “criticizing” some of these eighteenth-century Jesuits for harboring far too modern views—I categorically disagree. Jesuits were often the conduit of advanced ideas into New Spain. Although I became very attached to Charles Galántay and his tough and determined “Cousinne,” I had to let them go off without prying into their affairs any further. Anything else would have required a second novel. And finally, I must apologize to the real Esterházy family for placing the protagonists of the novel in their ancient seat of Galánta. In order to prevent any confusion, I spelled our family’s name without the aristocratic th, i.e., “Galántha,” as the Esterházys do.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

321

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1499055412

ISBN 13

9781499055412

The Private Memoirs of an Honorable Man

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

The Private Memoirs of an Honorable Man

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

I wrote this novel last, but, in fact it is the first volume of what had now become The Enlightenment Quartet. I look upon Memoirs as an introductory novel to the series. It covers an extended period, from the late 17th to the early-mid 18th century. What happens in this novel chronologically precedes the three others, and it also fills in a lacuna. In a sense, it wraps itself around the second volume. The four novels are in different formats: Memoirs are, well, memoirs. Hotel Transylvania, the next volume is a straightforward narrative. Child of Europe is largely in letters. The last, An Outsider among the Thespians is a narrative again. The Quartet deals with wars, exile, European outreach, art, and music. The protagonists are diplomats, generals, refugees, aristocrats, missionaries, artists, men and women. My overall aim was to evoke my favorite century from various viewing angles. Of course, the Quartet presents only a small portion of the times in which it is set. The Enlightenment reached its apex in the 18th century. Then, two revolutions, one political and one industrial, irrevocably changed Europe. And, as they say, progress cannot be reversed. P.S. A volume entitled Memoirs of Prince Eugene appeared in London in 1811. It turned out to be a well-meaning forgery by the Prince de Ligne I would like to repeat, once again that this novel is fiction.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

194

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

149905534X

ISBN 13

9781499055344

Hotel Transylvania

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Hotel Transylvania

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

The Hotel Transylvania is my third novel set in the eighteenth century. Together with Child of Europe and An Outsider Among the Thespians, they form a trio. I propose to call it The Enlightenment Trilogy. I first became interested in the person of Franois II Rkczi, Prince of Transylvania, when I read Gyula Szckfs 1909 monograph, The Exiled Rkczi. (See the appendix.) I was very impressed with Szekfs unmatched scholarship (Sz. was an archivist in Vienna and had unlimited access to the primary sources.) Equally, I was captivated by the novelistic possibilities. The juxtaposition of Rkczi, the Jansenist recluse, and the gambling house at the Hotel fascinated me. However, I sensed that Szekf had an ideological bias with which I disagreed. This book is neither an historical nor political treatise but a novel, that is, largely fiction. Ive perused a great deal of material in English, Hungarian, and French, etc., while doing research for the novel. And, I have returned to both Hungary and Paris to take a personal look at the scenes. I have had gracious help wherever I went and explained the project. Where I could identify the exact date of a book or quote, I did so. Otherwise, I gave the authors name and years. I have slightly modified a short French poem by Dorothy L. Sayers, and used Richard Wilburs excellent translations from Racine and Molire. The other translations, unless otherwise noted, are mine. I would like to thank my sister, Mrs. Sirtin Gyepes Judit not only for her literary review, but also for many of the sources. My niece, Ms. Barbara Gyepes Giammona did the editing work, and Ms. Evelyne Pnia Fodor thoroughly reviewed and edited all the French aspects. Finally, my sincere thanks to Ms. Adele Katz, who valiantly struggled through the handwritten manuscript and the many subsequent drafts. To all of them: MERCI!! thank you!

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

203

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1499055374

ISBN 13

9781499055375

An Outsider Among the Thespians

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

An Outsider Among the Thespians

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Outsider Amongst the Thespians" derived from two sources. First, my 25-year-long commuting career in Los Angeles provided me with approximately 5,000-6,000 hours of uninterrupted music listening. Second, my love for Haydn eventually pointed towards a book of some sort. The combination of these two impetus (?impeti) resulted in the present novel. Since this is a work of fiction, I took liberties with some dates, such as the original performances of Mozart's three great Italian operas, as well as with a few details in Luigia Polzelli's adventurous life. For the purposes of the story, I'd also simplified the complexities of the then existing London theater companies. (Anyone interested in all the arcane details is hereby referred to the Theatre Museum and Library in Covent Garden!) I've also conjured up Lorenzo da Ponte for a brief, cameo appearance. And, "Wien, Wien nur Du allein" was written about 100+ years after these events. Otherwise, I tried to be as accurate as I knew how. Le Matin, Le Midi and Le Soir refer, of course, to three early Haydn symphonies by those names. The three books which helped me most were: 1) Karl Geiringer: Haydn, A Creative Life in Music, U. of California Press, Revised 1982 (Originally published in English in 1946). 2) H.C.C. Taylor: Goldoni: A Biography, (London, 1914). 3) M. Dorothy George: London Life in the Eighteenth Century, Academy Chicago Publishers, 1984. (First published in London in 1925) Visits to Drottningholm, Eisenstadt and Eszterhaza were of paramount importance; my last theatrical journey to London cemented in earlier impressions. The two final Haydn operas were revelations, in spite of their poor librettos. Regardless of the circumstances, Haydn, a consummate professional, always did his best. * I would like to express my deepest thanks to my sister, Mrs. Sioretine Gyepes Judit for her detailed editorial comments, and to Dr. Linda Schubert for her advice on the musical aspects of this book.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

282

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1499055447

ISBN 13

9781499055443

An Outsider Among the Thespians

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

An Outsider Among the Thespians

By: Michael T.G. Yepes

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

282

Publisher

Xlibris Corporation

Published Date

ISBN 10

1499055447

ISBN 13

9781499055443

Book's by Michael T.G. Yepes

Child of Europe

Child of Europe

The Private Memoirs of an Honorable Man

The Private Memoirs of an Honorable Man

Hotel Transylvania

Hotel Transylvania

An Outsider Among the Thespians

An Outsider Among the Thespians

An Outsider Among the Thespians

An Outsider Among the Thespians

Username

Password

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email