Background
Szabo, Magda was born on October 5, 1917 in Debrecen, Hungary. Daughter of Alexis and Lenke (Jablonczay) Szabo.
Szabo, Magda was born on October 5, 1917 in Debrecen, Hungary. Daughter of Alexis and Lenke (Jablonczay) Szabo.
Born in Debrecen, Szabó graduated at the University of Debrecen as a teacher of Latin and of Hungarian.
She also wrote dramas, essays, studies, memories and poetry. She started working as a teacher in a Calvinist all-girl school in Debrecen and Hódmezővásárhely. Between 1945 and 1949 she was working in the Ministry of Religion and Education.
She began her writing career as a poet, publishing her first book Bárány ("Lamb") in 1947, which was followed by Vissza az emberig ("Back to the Human") in 1949.
In 1949 she was awarded the Baumgarten Prize, which was − for political reasons − withdrawn from her on the very day it was given. She was dismissed from the Ministry in the same year.
Her most widely read novel Abigél ("Abigail", 1970) is an adventure story about a schoolgirl boarding in eastern Hungary during the war. Her novel Abigél was popularised through a much-loved television series in 1978.
Abigél was also chosen as the sixth most popular novel at the Hungarian version of Big Read.
Her three other novels which were in the top 100 are Für Elise, An Old-fashioned Story and The Door.
(From the award-winning author of The Door comes Katalin S...)
Member Academy Europienne (Beaux arts section), Academy Scéchenyi of Literature and Arts in Hungary, International Pen Club.
Married Tibor Szobotka, June 5, 1948.