Pál Tar (born February 2, 1932, Budapest, Hungary; died July 13, 2017, Budapest) was a Hungarian writer and translator. He is best known for his novels and short stories, often dealing with themes of alienation, social injustice, and the absurdity of bureaucratic systems in communist-era Hungary.
Tar's writing style is characterized by its dark humor, irony, and a keen observation of human behavior under oppressive conditions. He frequently employed a narrative voice that blended realism with elements of the surreal, creating a distinctive and unsettling atmosphere in his works.
Some of his notable works include:
- Index Condemnatus (1973)
- A mi utcánk (Our Street)
- Sárdy Géza feltámadása (The Resurrection of Géza Sárdy)
Beyond his original writing, Tar was also a prolific translator, bringing the works of numerous international authors into Hungarian. He contributed significantly to the Hungarian literary landscape through both his own creative output and his translation efforts.