Eclipse of the Crescent Moon

Geza Gardonyi set his great Hungarian children's classic in the 16th century during the 150-year Ottoman occupation. Besides the tales of several battles, the novel details the extraordinary 1552 Siege of Eger, during which Captain István Dobó's 2,000 Hungarian men, women and children inside the county's castle, defeated a Turkish force of 80,000 men. The Magyar title, Egri csillagok (literally, "Stars of Eger"), is required reading in Hungarian schools, but the book provides fantastic history, entertainment and romance for kids (and grown ups) of all nationalities. The novel excludes much sad history that followed---Eger's 91-year era as the seat of a brutal Turkish vilayet (administrative region) starting in 1596, when a still larger Ottoman army defeated the Magyar forces. (Charles of Lorraine's Christian army liberated Eger only in 1687, a year after the Hapsburgs retook the Buda's west bank Danube castle, which was unified into Budapest in 1873.) But the novel fulfills the young reader's longing for a great plot and adventure, as told through the story of the peasant Gergely and his childhood friend and later sweetheart, Eva, whose parents push for her marriage to a nobleman. Travelers also reap rewards from this novel, which details daily life in 16th century Heves (pronounced He-vesh) county, east of the Mátra Mountains at the northern edge of Hungary's great Plain. This is wonderful reading, and highly recommended. --Alyssa A. Lappen

This classic Hungarian novel is about the life of an orphaned peasant boy who grows up to be one of the greatest heroes of the country. The author did a thorough research on the era he was writing about so the story is historically accurate and rich in details. The siege of the castle of Eger (1552) is the best part of the book, but I also loved the first part of the novel, because reading about the lives of the two main character from their childhood made me feel closer to them. The history of Hungary in the 16th century was a bloody one, yet there are not only battles in the book, but glimpses into the everyday life of Hungarian people and the occupying Turkish army, some insight into the political intrigues of the era and a beautiful love story of the peasant boy Gergely and Eva, his childhood sweetheart, whose parents want to force her to marry a nobleman.This is Gárdonyi's best novel in my opinion. I lived in Eger for 4 years, maybe that's why I love its history.For the reviewer who said someone should make a movie based on this book: there IS a movie and it's quite good although not as good as the book and I guess it's not available in English. (Also considered to be the movie with the funniest bloopers in Hungarian film history; with the 16th century people wearing watches and training shoes, I was told that there is also a bus that can be seen somewhere in the background -- I haven't seen that one yet, though. :)

I loved this book! Someone should seriously make a movie based on this book. It is the Hungarian version of The Alamo, except better! There aren't many other books that flow with the hungarian spirit like Gardonyi's "Egri Csilagok" Eclipse of the Cresent Moon.

I first read this book in Hungary as a child and it made a lasting impression on me then... Reading it as an adult was even better. It is an interesting and entertaining account of 1500's Hungary and worth reading for anyone who is interested in history or has a Hungarian background.

I highly reccomend this book to people who enjoy historical adventures. It takes place in Hungary, in the 1500's during the Turkish threat. Gardonyi gives us a colorful panoramic picture of the era. We meet heroic patriots, fair maidens and kidnapped children. It is an enchanting novel, full of twists and turns, romance and tragedy.