A sketch of the history of Magic cca. 1970

Id. László Schőnviszky

Cave researcher, mountaineer, founding member of the Hungarian Cave Research Association, council member of the Hungarian Tourist Association, tourist writer. He graduated from the upper commercial school in Mester Street, then studied for one semester at the University of Science, which he was forced to abandon due to the financial situation of his family, who lost his father early in life. For a time he studied at the National Museum’s Zoological Department under Lajos Bíró, and from 1919 he worked at the Szabó Ervin Library in Budapest until he was called up for military service. After returning from captivity, he worked as a metal printer until his retirement.

He became acquainted with nature as a scout, was a member of several classes of the MTE, hiked, climbed, skied and rowed, explored caves. He participated in the foundation of the Hungarian Karst and Cave Research Society. Among his literary activities, the most outstanding was the completion of the Hungarian cave bibliography between 1930 and 1945. His work was recognised by the Ottó Herman Memorial Medal and the naming of a room in the Pál Valley Cave after him.

Magic was one of the hobbies of his life. He wrote a book-length work entitled A Sketch of the History of Magic. He died on 29 September 1979 and was buried in the Rákoskeresztúr cemetery.