A Prince From Transylvania

A Prince From Transylvania is a children's novel steeped in the history of an immigrant community in America. It is the year 1927 and the Hungarian-American community in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has opened a summer vacation school for their Americanized children. There, thirteen-year-old Laura Kelety and her friends learn not only about their Hungarian heritage, but also about the recent history of Hungary and its heartbreaking loss of the province of Transylvania. Laura's imagination places her classmate, Victor, into a starring role in that tragic history, dubbing him, 'The Prince from Transylvania.' Laura tries to shake her romantic notion, but the appearance of strangers and the revelation of long-kept secrets makes Laura all the more curious about Victor's past.

Author Ella Banyay DeMers was herself the daughter of Hungarian immigrants in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Ella fills her novel with her own rich and detailed memories of family, friends and community. A Prince From Transylvania was written and published as a tribute to Ella Banyay DeMers' Hungarian heritage.

Reader praise for A Prince From Transylvania

"The story is lively and engaging." -Linda Gramatky Smith, children's book author and daughter of Hardie Gramatky, author of the children's classic, "Little Toot"

"A nice, gentle, informative Hungarian story...I have read it twice and will surely read it many more times." --M. Ruth

"I had tears in my eyes as your book revived the precious memories of the past. The history of Hungary created a tearjerker mood in me. A great deal of land was taken away from Hungary and our loving Possesions were used to form two new countries. The HIMNUSZ always makes me cry as it begins with 'ISTEN ALD MEGA MAGYART,' and the ending is very sad which states, 'MEGBUNHODTE mar e NAPAMULKTADES JOVENDOT!' This means that the MAGYAR NEP suffered enough through the past and to endure the future. It is a beautiful hymn! " -Jolan

"Brings backs memories of places, people and events I heard my mother, aunt and uncle discuss." -M. Hudson.

"I so much enjoyed reading about the social activities of the Hungarian community in Bridgeport [CT]. I could picture you as Laura at that age and feeling the same things. I also loved hearing about the immigrants and how they made a new life for themselves in a strange land." - Gloria