In Church and Society in Hungary and in the Hungarian Diaspora, Nándor Dreisziger tells the story of Christianity in Hungary and the Hungarian diaspora from its earliest years until the present. Beginning with the arrival of Christianity in the middle Danube basin, Dreisziger follows the fortunes of the Hungarians’ churches through the troubled times of the Middle Ages, the years of Ottoman and Habsburg domination, and the turmoil of the twentieth century: wars, revolutions, foreign occupations, and totalitarian rule.

Complementing this detailed history of religious life in Hungary, Dreisziger describes the fate of the churches of Hungarian minorities in countries that received territories from the old Kingdom of Hungary after the First World War. He also tells the story of the rise, halcyon days, and decline of organized religious life among Hungarian immigrants to Western Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere.

The definitive guide to the dramatic history of Hungary’s churches, Church and Society in Hungary and in the Hungarian Diaspora chronicles their proud past and speculates about their uncertain future.

Nándor Dreisziger is a professor emeritus in the Department of History at the Royal Military College of Canada and a founding editor of Hungarian Studies Review.

Nandor Dreisziger's profile page

• Winner, Book of the Year awarded by the Hungarian Association

‘Dreiszeger breaks new ground with this ambitious chronicle of the history of church life in Hungary and Hungarian communities throughout the world. This is no small feat, given the complicated shifts in Hungary’s borders during 1000 plus years of turbulent history… Highly recommended.’

Choice Magazine vol 54:05:2017

"Church and Society in Hungary and the Hungarian Diaspora offers extraordinary breadth in discussing Hungarian churches, taking the long view on history, while at the same time, weaving this narrative around the key themes of power and identity…[This book] offers an exceptional historical narrative to understand the grand transformation of churches, and it challenges the reader to reconsider the impacts of historical and cultural dynamics behind it."

University of Toronto Quarterly, vol 87 3, Summer 2018

‘With its global reach and wide sweep of history, this book offers a rich resource and intelligent meditation on the Hungarians and their churches.’

Church History vol86:02:2017

‘A rich account of religious life of Hungary and of Hungarian speaking communities… This text is presented with admirable clarity and illustrated with interesting details about prominent church men and local communities.’

The Journal of Ecclesiastical History vol 69:01:2018

‘This book imparts a great deal of information, and succeeds overall in situating Hungarians and their connection to Christianity in a global context.’

Canadian Journal of History vol 52:02:2017