Agnes Beretzky

Agnes Beretzky is an Associate Professor in the Department of English Literatures at the Institute of English Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary. She has held academic positions continuously since 2000, progressing from assistant professor to her current associate professor rank since 2008. She is the research group leader of the 'Great Britain, the United States and Hungary: history, society, politics (1848-21st century)' project at KRE BTTK.

Beretzky earned her PhD in History from ELTE Doctoral School in 2003 with a dissertation titled 'The perception of Hungary in Great Britain through the works of RW Seton-Watson and CA Macartney.' She holds multiple MA degrees from ELTE BTK (Eötvös Loránd University) in History, English Language and Literature, and Scandinavian Studies (Norwegian), completed between 1998 and 2001. Her additional qualifications include studies at the University of New Hampshire (2011), University of Oslo (1998), and Catholic University of Leuven (1998).

Her research focuses on Modern Hungarian History and East-Central European nationalism in a British context, with special attention to Hungarian-Norwegian relations through Bjornstjerne Bjornson's writings (1890-1910), applied history of ideas, and the history of Great Britain and the United States in the 19th-20th centuries. She also studies political ideologies, particularly the ideological systems of liberalism and conservatism, and nationalism studies. Her work bridges historical analysis with political philosophy, examining how historical events shape contemporary political thought and national identity.

Beretzky's publication record demonstrates a consistent scholarly output focused on British-Hungarian relations, with particular emphasis on key historical figures like RW Seton-Watson, CA Macartney, Arnold Joseph Toynbee, and Bjornstjerne Bjornson. Her recent work (2021-2025) shows increasing specialization in memory studies, national identity formation, and comparative analysis of political movements across Central Europe. Her publications span multiple languages and appear in both Hungarian and international journals, reflecting her dual academic engagement with local and global scholarly communities.

• The Lecturer of the Year 2022 (KRE Faculty of Humanities, 2023)
• The Publication of the Year 2023 (KRE Faculty of Humanities, 2024)
• Szenczi Molnár Albert Prize (KRE Faculty of Humanities, 2025)

Beretzky has served as thesis supervisor for doctoral students including Viktória Baráth (KRE TTDI) on 'The Save the Children Fund and Hungary,' and as opponent for dissertations including Patrik Szeghő's 'The Champions of Lasting Peace: Pro-Yugoslav British Intellectuals' Crusade for a United Southern Slav State' (2018) and Hegedüs Zoltán's work on the British Conservative Party (2025). Her international research grants have supported archival work at prestigious institutions including the British Library, Bodleian Library at Oxford, Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge, and University College London.

As a member of multiple academic societies including the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Public Body Member), Hungarian Historical Society, HUSSE (Hungarian Society for the Study of English), Central European History Society, and HAAS (Hungarian Association for American Studies), Beretzky maintains strong connections within the international academic community. Her guest lectures and research fellowships at institutions like the University of New Hampshire, University of Cambridge, and University College London demonstrate her active international scholarly engagement.