LAJOS BÁLINT (1928–2015). TECHNICAL EDITOR. A TALK AT THE SZABÉDI MEMORIAL HOUSE IN CLUJ, ON THE 18TH AND 20TH JUNE AND ON THE 20TH NOVEMBER 2014

Abstract

The interview follows the history of the Kriterion Publishing House between 1969–1989, as re-enacted through audio interviews made with its technical editor, Lajos Bálint (1928–2015).

Focused on several topics related to the life of the publishing house, the aim here was to find out as much as possible about the way the publishing policies eased the affirmation and survival of the minority cultures in the institutional context dominated by the Romanian majority culture. The stories and testimonies of Lajos Bálint date back to his work as a proofreader at the Világosság outlet, since the year 1948. With activities scattered between Cluj-Napoca, Oradea and Bucharest, a continuity is reflected by memories related to important personalities of several generations of workers at Kriterion. Despite a vocational work performed in the context of creating intellectual values as well as in the service to the common good, the era was marred by the thorough observations and interceptions of the authorities, being thus full of internal contradictions.