Dr Istv(Stephen) J is highly respected in Budapest literary circles but to the family he has always been known by the diminutive "Pisti." This prize-winning novel was inspired by a series of questions in an application for compensation for nazi atrocities. It is highly autobiographical, so the characters are real people, but it is a novel. Significant events, such as Pistis fathers trip to Rome, are real although how much embellished I do not know.English is a rich language as is Hungarian. The two don't always match up so I have tried to bridge the gap with footnotes where I could.Ripples of...