My family history in revolutions
by
This book is about three revolutionist: my great-great grand Father, my Uncle István and I. My great-great grandfather, a Hungarian nobleman, visited the Hapsburg Castle on many occasions. The Estate in western Hungary and it was about 150 kilometers to the north-west to Vienna. He joined the 1848 revolution and was killed as a member of the Hungarian patriarchy. His estate was confiscated and my great grandfather was brought up as a citizen in Szemegye, Vas megye. My grandfather tried to rebuild the family fortune and succeeded to a certain aspect but my father lost it in 1952 as part of the collectivisation. I grew up while my father fought the government and we became very poor. So, in 1956 I joined the revolution against the Soviet occupation. Our insurrection was defeated in November 4, 1956 and I escaped only 3 hours before youth leaders, including myself, were to be executed. The following book covers the stories of my family’s part in the revolutions. My great-great grandfather died as part of the patriarchy. My Uncle spent 5 years in a death camp, and I escaped to the west and rebuilt my life as a scientist, government employee and an entrepreneur.
My family involvement in the struggle for justice. My great-great grandfather gave his life to the homeland. My uncle Istvan suffered greatly in 5 years being captive. I escaped 3 hours before being shot by the police and rebuilt my life in the West.
Seymour Hamilton, Ottawa Independent Writers, Author wrote:“Canadian author Frank Hegyi’s account of his personal participation in the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 provides the reader with a front row view to one of the most important events in contemporary European history. It reminds us of how easy it is to stand for what one believes, only to be forced into exile and face the daunting task of building an entirely new life in a foreign land. Hegyi’s personal story exemplifies human resilience.”
Ian Prattis, Ottawa Independent Writers, Author wrote:"In 1956, at the age of eighteen, Frank Hegyi crawled through a minefield across the border between his native Hungary and Austria, fleeing a
Communist firing squad. At 23 he graduated on scholarship at Edinburgh
University in forestry. After three years in British Guiana, he immigrated to Canada. By 1980, he was a Director in the British Columbia forestry service, where he had extended the science and practice of forest inventory. Then he went into business for himself. Travelling the world as a consultant, he introduced computerized wireless communication in forest mapping and inventory. Paralyzed by a stroke at 66, he fought back to health and a further career as a writer, which he continues today. The Three Revolutionaries is Frank Hegyi’s autobiography. It is also the story of his Hungarian ancestors who championed their country’s freedom over three generations. Illustrated with archival photography, The Three Revolutionaries is a personal window into Hungarian history, through which we see the unyielding spirit of Hegyi’s country, family and his truly impressive lifetime."
"Frank Hegyi’s The Three Revolutionaries presents a family saga in Hungary, reaching back to his great – great grandfather. The fervour of
revolution was strongly manifest in each generation, including Frank. He
joined the 1956 revolution against Soviet occupation. He was captured along with other youth leaders but managed to escape through a minefield
before the youth leaders were executed. He describes each dramatic generation and the series of revolutions they fought and died in. For himself, the escape to the west enabled a new life as a scientist, entrepreneur and government director in Canada. He writers that he was
'the lucky one'. The archival photography punctuates the saga of Frank
Hegyi’s remarkable life and ancestry."