“Freedom is never given. It is dreamt, defended, and handed forward stitched with the hopes of those who refused to bow.”
Judith Kopácsi Gelberger
Historian with a Rebel's Pen and a Survivor’s Soul
Judith Kopácsi Gelberger is the author of The Price of Freedom historical fiction trilogy and the memoir Pawns in a Game, based on her experience as a Canadian refugee judge. Drawing from her unique family history — as the daughter of Budapest’s 1956 police chief, Sándor Kopácsi — Judith explores the untold stories of Cold War resistance, justice, and survival. Her work blends documented history with deeply personal storytelling.
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Judith Kopácsi Gelberger
A Canadian author, former refugee judge, and daughter of Sándor Kopácsi, the Police Chief of Budapest during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Born into a family of resistance fighters—her parents and grandparents fought in the anti-Nazi underground in World War II—Judith was later forced to flee Hungary following the Soviet crackdown. Her escape and the near-impossible fight to bring her parents to safety form the backbone of her lifelong advocacy for truth and justice.
Fierce with facts and fluent in feeling, Judith is the daughter of history and the mother of truth. A Cold War storyteller who blends memoir with espionage and revolution with redemption, she wields her pen with precision, purpose, and a punch. Judith doesn't just write about history — she lived it, rescued it, and now resurrects it on the page.
Whether exposing the shadows of Soviet manipulation or the bureaucratic injustice within Canada’s immigration system, she pulls no punches. Her trilogy The Price of Freedom is a literary act of resistance, while her memoir Heroes Don’t Cry is an elegy to courage. Judith's writing is where political intrigue meets poetic justice.
Welcome to the official site of Judith Kopácsi Gelberger — author, historian, and voice for those who refused to be silenced.Through memoir, poetry, and historical fiction, Judith explores the resilience, betrayal, and hope that define the struggle for freedom — from the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 to the hidden costs of modern refugee justice.
Featured Works in English
Books
📘 Heroes Don’t Cry (2009)
A memoir of courage, sacrifice, and hope amid dictatorship and exile.
👉 [LLearn More]
📕 In the Name of the Working Class (2013)
- By Sándor Kopácsi — Edited and Extended by Judith Kopácsi Gelberger
A powerful firsthand memoir from Budapest’s former police chief, imprisoned after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
This updated edition, republished by his daughter Judith, offers an unflinching portrait of moral courage in the face of Soviet betrayal.
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🌍 The Price of Freedom Trilogy
A sweeping Cold War saga of survival, betrayal, and resistance.
• Unlikely Allies (Book I – 2024)
• Chains of Deceit (Book II – Coming Soon)
• Whispers of Betrayal (Book III – Coming Soon)
✍️ Poetry
🖋️ Ruthless Rhythms (2022)
A striking collection of poems capturing terror, oppression, love, and defiant tenderness.
🧩 Short Stories & Essays
• The Monument / Grandma’s Bust – A haunting tale of memory, art, and inherited silence
• Memories of a Canadian Asylum Judge – A personal account of systemic injustice inside Canada’s refugee system
• Wallenberg: The Last Victim of the Katyn Massacre – An investigative reflection on Cold War secrets and historical truth
Manuscript almost completed
✍️ Pawns in a Game – The Hidden Cost of Refugee Justice in Canada.
Featured works in Hungarian
Könyvek
📖 Kötelet a hóhérnak (2023)
A hősők Nem sirnak (1994) - 1956 a 10 éves gyermek szemével
Viselkedési Problémák Kezelése (1994)-demokratikus iskolai nevelés -kézikönyv.
Novellák
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Cikkek
📖 1956 – A Kulisszák Mögött – Behind-the-scenes analysis of the Hungarian Revolution (2012)
Wallenberg - A katyini tragédia utolsó áldozata
A fontosság mértékegysége - Ügynök jelentések a Koácsi családról 1956-1999.
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Versek
📖 Könyörtelen Ritmusok – Hungarian edition of Ruthless Rhythms Ritmusok
Latest News
📰 Chains of Deceit — Volume II of The Price of Freedom trilogy — Coming Soon!
🇭🇺 Hungarian Writings Collection expanded — including Kötelet a hóhérnak and selections from Könyörtelen Ritmusok.
✍️ Manuscript almost completed: Pawns in a Game – The Hidden Cost of Refugee Justice in Canada.
📰 New Essay: Memories of a Canadian Asylum Judge — Judith’s personal account of systemic injustice inside Canada's refugee system.
📰 Wallenberg: The Last Victim of the Katyn Massacre — sheds new light on Cold War secrets.
🌟 Praise from Árpád Göncz, former President of Hungary, for Heroes Don’t Cry.Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
Connect with Judith
Judith welcomes invitations from readers, historians, educators, and book clubs.
If you would like to reach out, you are warmly invited to connect.