The Good Master, by Kate Seredy

[aparsons]

The Good Master has to be one of my favorite books of all time. I first picked it up when I was in middle school and I have been hooked on this author ever since. It's not simply a good story, Kate Seredy is one of the best realistic artists I've seen illustrate books. I always admired her drawings.

The Good Master is set in Hungary, written in the early 1930's. It follows a spoiled little girl who is sent to her uncle's house to live because the city is too harsh on her "delicate" disposition. We follow her exploits, like climbing the rafters and eating the winter sausages instead of milk, nearly getting kidnapped by gypsies, and learning how to ride horses. She becomes a strong, humble and caring person through the course of the story, and realize there is joy in the simple things in life, like watching plants grow, Easter celebrations, and hearing about Hungarian history.

Kate Seredy followed this book up with The Singing Tree, which I have never read, but I have heard it deals with the realities of war and the contrast between the children's idyllic childhood. She has also written a book on Hungarian folktales. Has anyone read anything by her, or similar? Does Hungary still produce good writers/stories you can recommend?