King Matthias and the Beggar Boy

The legendary King Matthias Corvinus rules Hungary with a reputation for uncommon justice. Into his path comes Miska, a beggar boy with nothing but hunger and curiosity. When the king spots the boy loitering near his court, he sees something useful: a child no one would suspect, no one would watch. He sends Miska into the shadowed castle of the mysterious Mr. Samson, a place rumored to harbor robbers, conspiracies, and dark secrets. What begins as a desperate chance at a better life becomes a test of courage, loyalty, and cunning. Miska must navigate a world of danger where a single mistake means death, all while discovering that justice and corruption often wear the same face. Written by Hungarian nobleman Miklós Jósika in the late 19th century, this novel blends adventure with a sharp eye for the class divisions that shape who gets to matter and who gets overlooked.