János Garay | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1812-10-10)October 10, 1812 |
| Died | (1853-11-05)November 5, 1853 Pest, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire |
| Language | Hungarian |
János Garay (10 October 1812 – 5 November 1853) was a Hungarian poet and author, born inSzekszárd,Tolna County. From 1823 to 1828 he studied atPécs, and subsequently, in 1829, at theUniversity of Pest. In 1834 he brought out an heroic poem, inhexameters, under the titleCsatár. Garay was an energetic journalist, and in 1838 he moved toPozsony, where he edited the political journalHírnök (Herald). He returned toPest in 1839, when he was elected a corresponding member of theHungarian Academy of Sciences. In 1842 he was admitted into theKisfaludy Society, of which he became second secretary.[1]
Garay enriched Hungarian literature with numerous lyrical poems, ballads and tales. The first collection of his poems was published in Pest; and his prose tales appeared in 1845, under the title ofTollrajzok (Sketches with the Pen). His historical ballads and legends, styledÁrpádok (Pest, 1847, 2nd ed. 1848), showed him to be a master in the art of ballad-writing. Some of his lyrical poems also are excellent, as, for example,Balatoni kagylók (Shells fromLake Balaton) (Pest, 1848). His legendBosnyák Zsófia (Pest, 1847), and his poetical romanceFrangepán Kristófné (Christopher Frangepan's Wife) (Pest, 1846), gained the prize of the Kisfaludy Society.[1]
He wrote the comic poemAz obsitos (The Veteran) about the self-prolaimed hero Háry János, with whom Garay was personally acquainted.[2]Zsolt Harsányi (1887–1943) andBéla Paulini [hu] (1881–1945) adapted the poem into aSingspiel libretto, which was set to music byZoltán Kodály in his 1926 folk operaHáry János.
His last and most famous work was an historical poem in twelve cantos, with the titleSzent László (Saint Ladislaus) (Eger, 1852, 2nd ed., Pest, 1853, 3rd ed. 1863).[1]
Garay was professor of Hungarian language and literature to the University of Pest in 1848–1849. Since he was frail he supported the 1848 Revolution for freedom through his poetry. When the Revolutionaries lost he was condemned by the Habsburgs. After about four years illness he died in 1853, in great want. A collected edition of his poems was published in Pest the year after his death by F. Ney (2nd ed. 1860), and several of his poems were translated byKertbeny.[1] His birthplace of Szekszárd has a statue to honor him.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Garay, János".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 456.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
