PROSPERO'S BOOK MARKET PODCAST
Discussions on important topics of the Hungarian and international book market with Frigyes Janzer (Prospero's Books Ltd.). In this podcast, the focus is not on books, but on book market players. We will try to cover book business topics from the publishers', booksellers' and buyers' point of view.
Permanent participants: Frigyes Janzer and Krisztián Mózes
For edited Hungarian and auto-generated English subtitles please check out our
Youtube podcast channel!
The podcast (in Hungarian) is available here: https://pod.link/1717578270
Krisztián Mózes, GATE teacher. He holds a teaching degree from the Faculty of Humanities of ELTE, and since 2010 he has been running talent management courses and camps and conducting accredited teacher training courses. He has published a puzzle book and a travel guide, worked as a railway and tourism journalist, is currently editor-in-chief of a local newspaper, and is also involved in translation and proofreading. He has been a member of Mensa HungarIQa Association since 2003, and has been its talent management officer since 2010. He also acts as a member of the board for the Association.
Frigyes Janzer graduated from the Faculty of Humanities at ELTE. He began his career in literary research and was a lecturer at ELTE for many years. In 1995 he founded Prospero's Books, a book trading company. Prospero imports books from abroad and (in another business line) provides distribution services for small Hungarian independent publishers.
Krisztián and Frigyes, apart from producing the book market podcast, have been working together since 2014 on a charitable initiative, the Gondola programme for the Joy of Thinking Foundation.
How to win the Nobel Prize in Literature: Book market considerations
Episode 18. | 51:13 | 23 October 2025
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
Were there any Hungarian contenders besides Imre Kertész and László Krasznahorkai? What has changed in the 21st century compared to previous centuries in terms of the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Literature? Is it possible to win with a bestseller, or are other factors more important? We discussed the nomination and decision-making process. Do previous awards play a role in the decision? Which languages do most winners write in, and is it possible to achieve success with poetry or drama? We discussed the importance of translations, particularly what kind of translations and foreign editions are necessary for the award. We examined the significance of publishers in the English and German-speaking world in the case of László Krasznahorkai. How does the prize affect large retailers? How long did it take for almost all of the recent Nobel Prize winner's books to sell out after the announcement?
More Stories About Publishers and Authors in the UK Book Market
Episode 17. | 35:30 | 7 August 2025
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
The end of the road for a crowdfunded publisher. What kind of Goodreads trolls are damaging authors’ reputations? A writer whose bestselling book became a film — but who marketed a story as true that wasn’t entirely accurate. What responsibility does the publisher bear in such cases? Are male authors really being pushed out of the book market? And finally, we also talk about the genuine international success of a Hungarian author.
A glimpse into the daily life of a publishing workshop: a conversation with Szabolcs D. Szilágyi, head of Koinónia Publishing
Episode 16. | 50:29 | 6 April 2025
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
This episode is an interview with Szabolcs D. Szilágyi, the head of Koinónia Publishing. Koinónia is a publishing house based in Cluj-Napoca that publishes mainly religious and children's books, but also academic and professional titles as well as fiction for adults. Anyone interested in how a quality publishing house works can now get an insight into this, as the episode covered topics such as the profile of the publisher, the process of selecting authors and selling and buying book rights. The interview gives us an insight into the editing process, the tasks of the people involved in creating a book and also the economic background. Publisher's website: http://www.koinonia.ro/
Books from the Kingdom, or all about the British book market, part 2.
Episode 15. | 58:36 | 7 February 2025
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
What were the bestselling titles of 2024 in the UK? Who are the leading publishers and how many publishers is one publisher really? We talked about agencies and how book rights are sold at auction. Why do distributors go bankrupt and why is it difficult to start a new one? How has Brexit changed the UK book market? How much could you earn as a book professional in the UK? We invite our listeners to join our guessing game on this topic. What do the heads of the big publishing houses expect from 2025?
Books from the Kingdom, or all about the British book market, part 1.
Episode 14. | 50:36 | 31 January 2025
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
In the first of a two-part discussion on the British book market, we talked about its importance, structure and commercial side. Why is it the most important market for us Hungarians? How does the size of the British book market compare to the Hungarian market? In this episode we talk mainly about the commercial side, including the big retailers and the independents, specialty bookshops and even a Hungarian-themed selection from a quality bookshop in Oxford. We will also talk about the diversity of the market, but also about the problems caused by Brexit.
Important and interesting book market news at the end of 2024
Episode 13. | 40:07 | 4 December 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
New developments in the lawsuit against the Internet Archive. What are the pre-publication copies that some TikTok influencers are selling at a premium? Another major contract between the publishing world and artificial intelligence companies. Will AI systems replace translators? Older readers are increasingly important.
The city of books: reflections on the Frankfurt Book Fair 2024
Episode 12. | 39:07 | 20 November 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
What's the point of a book fair if they don't sell books? Is it smaller or bigger than last year or 10 years ago? The answer will be a bit surprising. Is this a German or an international fair? If you are a book specialist, how do you prepare for Frankfurt? And finally, we playfully predicted which country will award the Nobel Prize for Literature around 2026-27.
The Syrian language Bible and Mongolian books in the time of the epidemic, or stories from the past 30 years of Prospero
Episode 11. | 38:44 | 1 October 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
After the bloopers collection from past year's podcast recordings, we've been reminiscing about stories of the 30-year-old Prospero, mentioning for examle some of the most exotic places we've shipped books from throughout our history. We talk about our journey from exhibitions and catalogues to the web shop and the New Shakespeare. About the importance of social responsibility in Prospero's life.
A short film about Prospero's daily operations
Podcast interview with Veronika Pistyur
A short film about Prospero's daily operations
Podcast interview with Veronika Pistyur
The Kirtsaeng - Wiley lawsuit and other judicial stories from the book market
Episode 10. | 49:31 | 10 July 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
Who is Supap Kirtsaeng and what was his relationship with the famous publisher Wiley? Why did the lawsuit cause serious problems for university textbook publishers? What was the legal dispute between Hachette, one of the world's biggest publishers, and Amazon? Who won the Authors Guild and Google lawsuit? Can artificial intelligence write a novel instead of George R R Martin? We discuss the copyright interests of publishing and commerce in this episode.
Once again on the price fixing of books
Episode 9. | 27:33 | 19 June 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
After the adoption of the text of the law on the price fixing of books, we discussed in detail what had changed compared to the draft law and what the consequences of these changes would be. What are the flaws and shortcomings of the law and, surprisingly, what loopholes have been introduced in the text? Why is the law even slightly better than the draft?
A conversation with János Szakács, head of Írók Boltja
Episode 8. | 29:53 | 14 June 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
We spoke to János Szakács, the manager of the Writers' Shop, one of the last major independent Hungarian bookshops. How is it different from the big chain stores? Since when has this shop had its own role and profile? What are its strengths? Why is the range of products different? What is the outstanding success story of the recent past, and what is more, what is hardly available elsewhere?
Is price fixing good for the Hungarian book market?
Episode 7. | 31:19 | 3 April 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
Why will the effect of the fixed price of books on the Hungarian book market be very different from, say, the effect in Germany? Why is this a problem when the Hungarian book association has also proposed a similar legislation? Who are the beneficiaries and who are the sufferers of such a law? How does this affect readers? In whose interest is it anyway, i.e. who initiated the draft law and why exactly was it passed?
On the chances of independent bookshops
Episode 6. | 58:56 | 23 February 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
Can small, independent bookshops survive? Can they even flourish? Why is it important to have independent shops at all? In addition to the Hungarian market, we also look at examples from the UK, the US, Spain, Sweden and especially the Netherlands. What can shops do individually and what will the results be if they work together? What are the solutions? Specialisation, online presence and what else? In this episode, we also give concrete tips.
The price of books
Episode 5. | 56:35 | 26 January 2024
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
What makes a book as expensive as it is? What are the printing costs for 50 and 10,000 copies? Margins, marketing, logistics costs and what else? How do you set the price of a book so that the customer is satisfied and the publisher doesn't go out of business? Is it really not possible to give a discount on books in Germany? Should we spend on marketing? How much do really expensive books cost abroad? We thank Prime Rate Ltd for their professional help in estimating printing prices.
An interview with Gábor Békés on his book published by Cambridge University Press
Episode 4. | 50:43 | 19 December 2023
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
Gábor Békés (CEU; KRTK Institute of Economics) talks to Frigyes Janzer about his book published by Cambridge University Press. Our central question is where and how to publish an English-language textbook, and a lot is said about what the author can do to make the book a success after publication.
Gábor Békés's page
Data Analysis for Business, Economics, and Policy at Prospero's webshop
Link to free supplementary material for the book
Interview with Gábor (in English) in "The mixtape" podcast (S2E26)
Gábor Békés's page
Data Analysis for Business, Economics, and Policy at Prospero's webshop
Link to free supplementary material for the book
Interview with Gábor (in English) in "The mixtape" podcast (S2E26)
Traditional publishing or self-publishing - which is the better choice?
Episode 3. | 51:22 | 13 December 2023
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
With whom should a Roman archaeologist, a subject poet or a TikTok cooking guru publish their book? Is self-publishing a better choice than traditional publishing? Are there other options? Does the success of a book depend on this at all? Krisztián Mózes and Frigyes Janzer take a close look at the aspects an author should consider when deciding how to publish a book. We also talk about what an 8-year-old did to achieve perhaps the biggest success in the book market.
Frankfurt Book Fair 2023
Episode 2. | 35:18 | 24 November 2023
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
What is BookTok, how many football pitches is the Frankfurt Book Fair and how to prepare for it? These and much more topics are covered in this part of our series. Krisztián Mózes talks to Frigyes Janzer about his experiences at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2023 and what has changed at the world's biggest book fair in recent years.
Homepage of the Frankfurt Book Fair
Homepage of the Frankfurt Book Fair
On the differences between the Hungarian and international book markets
Episode 1. | 59:49 | 16 November 2023
Listen to the episode (in Hungarian) here: Youtube • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Pod.link
This is what the episode is about:
In the introductory episode of the Prospero Book Market Podcast, Krisztián Mózes and Frigyes Janzer discuss the specifics of the domestic, Hungarian book market. We talk about retail chains, wholesalers, distribution, the consignment system and try to compare Hungarian peculiarities with international practice.
