Manuscript diaries of Adam de Hegedus

Description

Three manuscript diaries covering the years 1932-1948, however the 18 months in which he was training to be a gunner in Wakefield in 1941 is missing. Also includes inserted in the front of one of thevolumes exemption certificate, passenger ticket for ship and scrap of envelope addressed to Iseli Magda Hedus Ferencne.

The diaries discuss De Hegedus’s working life as a journalist and personal life detailing his struggles to find work after being discharged from the army and his later work as a cinema poster delivery man. The diaries also follow his travels between Hungary, London and Paris and his personal thoughts and feelings on people he meets. He also discusses his work writing books, including his autobiography ‘ Don’t Keep the Vanman Waiting' (1944) which is a record of the years missing from the diaries.

Biography or history

Adam de Hegedus (1906-1955) was a Hungarian-British Author best known for his novels published under the Pseudonym Rodney Garland. His most popular book is titled 'The Heart of Exile' (1953) and chronicles homosexual life in wartime London. Published 14 years before homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK it was one of the first books to openly explore the theme of Homosexuality in1950s Britain.

De Hegedus first came to Britain in 1927 to learn English to become a Hungarian Diplomat like his father. He returned to Hungary only to pass his final law exam, quickly returning to Britain with dreams of becoming an ‘English Writer’ He worked as a correspondence for several Hungarian newspaper during the 1930s and began writing articles for British periodicals.
After the beginning of the Second World War, after Hungary allied itself with Germany Britain cut off diplomatic relations with Hungary and De Hegedus was out of work. He decided to sign up to the war effort and trained as a Gunner near Wakefield.

His Autobiography titled ' Don’t Keep the Vanman Waiting' (1944) records his time training and his posting to Kent to await deployment. He suffered a nervous breakdown and was discharged from the Army in 1942, later struggling to find work due to his Hungarian nationality.

Access and usage

Access

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