First published in 1996. There has been no more important relationship between folk artist and folklorist than that between Zsuzsanna Palkó and Linda Dégh. Dégh’s painstaking collection of Mrs. Palkó’s tales attracted the admiration of the Hungarian-speaking world. In 1954 Mrs. Palkó was named Master of Folklore by the Hungarian government and summoned to Budapest to receive ceremonial recognition. The unlettered 74-year-old woman from Kakasd had become “Aunt Zsuzsi” to Linda Dégh—and was about to become one of the world’s best known storytellers, through Dégh’s work.

Translated by: Vera Kalm