Translated by Katharina M. Wilson and Christopher C. Wilson.

Göncz Árpád born in 1922, He was secretary of the Smallholders’ Party after World War II. He was sentenced for life for taking part in the 1956 Revolution but was released with amnesty in 1963. "It was in prison that I became a translator," he said once. "I told them that I spoke English, and it turned out to be a good idea, as I had the opportunity to actually learn English in prison. So I learnt a profession that I could live on afterwards. I started to be involved in literature by becoming a translator."

From 1965, he lived as a freelance writer and translator. After the 1990 regime change Göncz, a co-founder of the liberal Alliance of Free Democrats, was elected President of the Republic twice. He was one of the most popular politicians after the regime change. After leaving the presidency in 2000, Göncz devoted himself to charitable work.

Göncz published several prose volumes. His historical novella about Waldensians, entitled Men of God (1974), is dedicated "to all heretics of all centuries who sacrificed their lives, and to all their judges who sacrificed the truth of their lives, to their faith," and takes place in 1400s Hungary. Other works by Göncz include two short story collections, Encounters (1980) and Homecoming and Shavings (short stories, 1991), and plays: Hungarian Medea (1979), Iron Bars (1979), and Balance (1990).