In this volume we can read the exchange of letters between Károly Kerényi and Angelo Brelich, two prominent scholars of Hungarian origin, historians of religion and classical philologists of the middle of the 20th century.
The letters shed light on the political and social history of a defining era in which the threat of World War II can already be felt, and which will be marked by the tragedy of the camps, and through the letters we will also see what is behind the emigration of the intelligentsia in the 20th century. Their letters are rich in scientific references and sophisticated details - they provide insight into the difficulties of the post-war period, from economic austerity to spiritual excitement and the anxiety of cultural renewal.
The correspondence was not intended for publication by the two authors. Their reciprocal relationship ranges from a community of scientific and existential ideals to a fracture that, however, never becomes a final break.
The volume is introduced by Marcello Massenzio, Valerio Severino, Cornelia Isler-Kerényi, János György Szilágyi, Lucia Barella-Kerényi and Mihály Hoppál.
ANGELO BRELICH (Budapest, 1913 - Rome, 1977) is a world-famous Italian religious historian of Hungarian origin, ancient historian, university professor, one of the greatest XX. century researcher.
KÁROLY KERÉNYI (Timisoara, 1897 - Ascona, 1973) is a classical philologist, historian of religion, and an internationally renowned cultivator of ancient science and religious history, including the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Norwegian Academy of Sciences, the Instituto di Studi Etruschi in Florence and the Frankfurt Institute member.