Rebecca Makkai Faces Scrutiny Over Novel Linking 1930s Fascism to Modern Politics

The bestselling author, whose grandfather authored antisemitic laws in Hungary, draws parallels between historical and contemporary fascism in her upcoming book.

• Rebecca Makkai, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, is writing a novel set in 1938 exploring the rise of fascism in the U.S., slated for release in 2026.
• Makkai's grandfather, Janos Makkai, authored Hungary's 1939 antisemitic laws, which excluded Jews from public life and contributed to the Holocaust.
• Criticism has emerged over Makkai's lack of direct acknowledgment of her grandfather's role in Jewish persecution and her broader handling of antisemitism in her work.
• The author has drawn controversial comparisons between 1930s fascism and Donald Trump's political rallies, sparking debate about historical parallels.
• Makkai has supported anti-antisemitism efforts in the arts but faced backlash for her comments on Israel's actions in Gaza, which some have labeled antisemitic.

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