Hungarian TV producer/presenter, documentary filmmaker and author András Kepes' first novel The Inflatable Buddha - originally published as Tövispuszta in 2011 in Hungary, where it has become a bestseller - has been translated from the Hungarian by Bernard Adams. The Inflatable Buddha is a warm, witty and poignant account of the lives of three boys from disparate cultural backgrounds, set against the dramatic backdrop of Hungary's recent history. Pál, Isti and Dávid are closely connected, through shared roots in Tövispuszta, a fictitious settlement, and in the everyday joys and struggles of their respective families, relationships and careers. András Kepes' narrative is at once realistic, intimate and universally appealing. It also offers an insightful overview of events in Hungary as they unfurl, as seen through the protagonists' eyes - in a single lifetime, the country's political and cultural landscape undergoes more challenges and changes to allegiance, geographical borders, beliefs and regimes than most other nations experience in their entire history. Some quotes about the novel in its original language: 'This highly readable book traces the history of three Hungarian families over the last hundred years, and through their fate we learn of the tumultuous and fascinating history of fascist and communist totalitarianism in Hungary. Kepes' prose is sharp, clear and entertaining and he writes with deep human understanding and great humor. The book certainly deserves to be a bestseller in English as it has been in Hungarian; it delivers a powerful and deeply engaging message about how ordinary people cope with extraordinary historical circumstances. Kepes' book is a riveting page-turner, and as a multi-generational family saga it belongs in the finest traditions of this illustrious genre.' Joseph P. Forgas, April 2013 "András Kepes has created a rich and moving epic of his homeland in the 20th century. Known for his humor, incisive questioning, and insightful reportage, he has long been hailed as the most popular televison journalist and talk show host in Budapest. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of some of the most varied and extraordinary characters in a nation of dramatic contradictions, he has finally written an historical novel that is both personal and epic. Beginning with the friendship of three boys--an aristocrat, a peasant, and a Jew--he spins a spellbinding tale of the Hungarian experience through their children and grandchildren as they liv