Esterházy, Péter

The Hungarian author Péter Esterházy was born into one of Hungary's wealthiest and most influential aristocratic families. His grandfather was the last Hungarian prime minister of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. When their property was taken over by the state in 1948, the family was branded as enemies of the people and stripped of their political power and wealth. Esterházy's father was deported to a remote village in north-eastern Hungary where Péter Esterházy grew up. They were not permitted to return to Budapest until after the death of Stalin.