About
Attila József (1905-1937) is one of the greatest Hungarian poets of the 20th century. Born in Budapest into a poor family, he lost his mother at 14. He published his first collection at 17. After studies in Szeged, Vienna, and Paris, he became politically engaged, joining the Communist Party in 1930. His major collections, such as 'Döntsd a tőkét' and 'Külvárosi éj', reflect his social commitment and sensitivity to the marginalized. Suffering from mental illness, he died tragically at 32, struck by a train. His work, marked by profound humanity, is celebrated annually on April 11, Hungarian Poetry Day.
* 1905-04-11 — † 1937-12-03
Major works
- A szépség koldusa (1922)poetry collection
- Döntsd a tőkét (1931)poetry collection
- Külvárosi éj (1932)poetry collection
- Medvetánc (1934)poetry collection
- Nagyon fáj (1936)poetry collection
Key milestones
- 1930Joins the illegal Communist Party of Hungary.
- 1936Co-founds the literary review Szép Szó.
- 1948Awarded the Kossuth Prize posthumously.
Themes
social alienationpovertylovenaturepolitical consciousness
Sources: poets.org · europeana.eu