Why was The Village Notary a political novel as well as a portrait of village life?

The Village Notary (1845) by József, Baron Eötvös functions as both a vivid portrait of village life and a potent political novel because it uses the depiction of rural conditions to launch a bitter satire of the old Hungarian social order.1

While the work provides a pioneering realistic portrayal of the peasant experience in Hungarian literature, its primary objective was to expose the systemic injustices of the era. By highlighting the harsh realities of the countryside, Eötvös aimed to mobilize public opinion against the prevailing feudal structures and the institution of serfdom. As a statesman and reformer, Eötvös utilized the novel as a vehicle to advocate for his liberal vision, which included the alleviation of poverty and the establishment of a modern, democratic Hungary. Thus, the narrative serves as both a social document and a deliberate political instrument intended to challenge the status quo.1