This site is in the final stages of development

Please come back later or visit the Hungarian website tothkrisztina.hu

If you would like to be notified when the International site is available, please enter your name and email address here.

Biography

2026

She is working on her next book …

2025

Her novel The Monkey’s Eye becomes an international success, receiving critical acclaim in the New York Times, the Financial Times, and Asymptote.

2025

My Secret Life, her first collection of poems in English, tr. George Szirtes is published by Bloodaxe, and is shortlisted for the 2025 “Warwick Prize for Translation.”

2024

Moves from London to Switzerland, returning to Hungary regularly.

2024

She becomes a regular columnist for WMN.

2023

Leaves Hungary again, this time moving to London.

2023

She marries Nicolas Richter.

2022

Her novel The Monkey’s Eye, set in an authoritarian society, is Hungary’s best selling novel of the year.

2022

She returns to Hungary.

2021–

She becomes a regular columnist for Telex.

2021

Facing a series of vicious attacks in the Orban controlled state press, she leaves Hungary and moves to France. She spends four months in Lyon, then another two in Cognac.

2019

Manó Könyvek publishes, “Let’s be friends”, first volume of the Malac és Liba children’s book series. The widely popular series comprises 14 volumes by 2026.

2018

Closes her workshop to make her living solely from writing.

2017

She spends four months in France with her daughter.

2015

The Girl Who Didn’t Speak, about adoption, is published by Móra Könyvkiadó.

2013

Publication of her novel, Akvarium.

2013

She adopts her daughter, “Lili”.

2010

Her 1st novel, Pixel brings further widespread recognition and international success.

2005–

She becomes a regular columnist for Nők Lapja.

2005

Following 9 collections of poetry, she publishes Vonalkód (Barcode) her first book of short stories. The book is a major success both in Hungary and internationally and is translated into over 10 languages.

2002–2018

She establishes her own workshop and makes a living creating and repairing stained glass windows.

2001

Spends an extended period in Corsica. At the invitation of Géza Morcsányi, she signs with Magvető, publishing all her subsequent books there.

1998

Her son, Marcell Szántó, is born.

1993–1998

Works at the French Institute in Budapest, organizing exhibitions and cultural programs.

1993

She returns to Budapest, completes her University studies, earning a degree.

1991–1992

Lives in Paris, studying at the Sorbonne as a Tempus scholar.

1991

Drops out of the History and defers her Hungarian language course to travel to Paris.

1989

Her first collection of poems, titled Őszi kabátlobogás (Fluttering Raincoat), is published.

1988

Admitted to the Faculty of Humanities at Eötvös Loránd University, majoring in Hungarian and History

1986–1987

Works as an intern at the Hungarian National Museum

1985

Joins the Sárvár Student Writers’ Circle. With her poems, wins first prize in the prestigious Sárvár Student Writers’ Competition

1983

First collection of poems was published in Ifjúsági Magazin, edited by Imre D. Magyari

1982–1986

Studied sculpture at the Budapest High School of Fine and Applied Arts

1974–1982

Attended the Szív Street Elementary School (French-language section)

1967

Born in Budapest.

Language

Hungarian, French, English

Photos by Luca Göblyös