In October 2012, in front of the Endre Ady High School in Oradea, a sculptural composition by Árpád Deák featuring Endre Ady, Gyula Juhász, Ákos Dutka, and Tamás Emőd was unveiled. The artwork honors the figures of the "Holnap" (Tomorrow) literary movement, which was enthusiastically praised in Oradea over a century ago. In an issue of "Nagyváradi Napló" (Oradea Daily) from March 25, 1914, Gyula Juhász wrote passionately about the short-lived but impactful movement: "Yes, it's pleasant to reminisce about it because, let's admit, since then there hasn't been a more selfless, Hungarian, and poetic literary movement organized on a shareholder basis that even distributed dividends to poets. I love the persecuted, mocked, and now defunct 'Holnap,' despite the ridicule, persecution, over-promotion, and silence because it was my youth, sincere, enthusiastic, eternally melancholic youth."
The "Holnap" literary society aimed to revolutionize early 20th-century Hungarian literature. Initially conceived as a regular literary journal, it instead released anthologies that ruffled feathers in conservative circles. Their first anthology, "A Holnap," made its debut in September 1908, edited by Antal Sándor and triggering a national campaign against them. Though they aspired to release a journal, the society only managed to produce a second volume of the anthology in 1909, edited by engineer Kollányi Boldizsár.
The anthologies were shrouded in controversy from their inception, shaking up Hungarian cultural and social landscapes from Oradea to Budapest. The society played an active role in cultural events, even collaborating with the "Nyugat" literary group despite ideological differences. The enduring impact of "Holnap" is seen in its influence on later generations and its role in defining the divide between modern and conservative elements in Hungarian literature.
Your walking tour could start at the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual cornerstone of Oradea, reflecting centuries of faith and community. As you meander through the city, you approach the grand Moskovits Palace and the elegant Stern Palace, each a testament to the opulent past and architectural splendor of the city.
Passing the Apollo Palace, you're reminded of the city's artistic and theatrical heritage, culminating at the grand Maria Theater, a cultural beacon that has hosted countless performances. Nearby, the central Piata Unirii (Union Square) is not just the heart of the city but also a gateway to the Black Eagle Palace, an icon of Art Nouveau architecture.
As you explore, the cityscape tells stories of Oradea's literary circles and poets who frequented these landmarks, weaving a rich tapestry of cultural and intellectual history. The Black Eagle Palace, in particular, with its cafes and halls, might have been the very place where literary societies gathered, and muses were met, against a backdrop of architectural beauty. This is a journey not just through the streets of Oradea but through the annals of its vibrant cultural and literary past.