György Faludy
Encyclopedia
György Faludy sometimes anglicized
as George Faludy, was a Hungarian
-Jewish
poet
, writer and translator.
, and even more prominent rewritings (as he admitted several times), brought him huge popularity on their initial publication in 1934, and have been since published about forty times. He could have hardly expressed these ideas in any other way in his time. He wrote several volumes of poetry as well, some of which were published in English. – His other outstanding success was My Happy Days in Hell (Pokolbéli víg napjaim), a memoir first published in 1962 in English translation, which was translated to French and German as well, but did not appear in the original Hungarian until much later.
and studied at the Universities of Vienna, Berlin and Graz. During these times he developed radical liberalist views, which he maintained till the very last days of his life.
In 1938, he left Hungary for Paris because of his Jewish ancestry, and then for the U.S. During World War II, he served in the American forces. He arrived back in Hungary in 1946. In April 1947 he was among a group that destroyed a Budapest statue of Ottokár Prohászka
, a Hungarian bishop who is respected by many but who is often considered antisemitic. He only admitted his participation forty years later.
In 1949 he was condemned with fictitious accusations and was sent to the labor camp of Recsk for three years. During this time, he lectured other prisoners in literature, history and philosophy. After his release he made his living by translation. In 1956 (after the Revolution
) he escaped again to the West. He settled in London, and was the editor of a Hungarian literary journal.
It was during his stay in London that Faludy wrote his memoir, which was soon translated to English, by which he is still best known outside Hungary: My Happy Days in Hell. (It was only published in his native tongue in 1987, and since then in several further editions.) He moved to Toronto
in 1967 and lived there for twenty years. He gave lectures in Canada and the U.S. and was the editor of Hungarian literary journals. In 1976, he received a Canadian citizenship and two years later was elected as an honorary doctor of the University of Toronto
where he regularly taught. His poems were published in New York in 1980 (see below with the other collections).
In 1988 Faludy returned to Hungary. After the change of regime, his works, which were forbidden, confiscated, destroyed and distributed as samizdat
during the Communist period, were at last published in Hungary. New collections of poems appeared in the 1990s, and several translations. In 1994 he received the most prestigious award in Hungary, the Kossuth Prize
. In 2000 he published the sequel of My Happy Days in Hell: "After My Days in Hell" in Hungarian (no data available about any English translation), about his life after the labour camp. In the years preceding his death, Faludy was considered not only as a poet, a writer and a translator but as a living legend as well in Hungary.
Renowned for his anecdotes as well as his writing, he was a celebrated wit whose life story attracted the attentions of many a foreign author. Besides the many European based authors who visited Faludy, there was the Canadian author George Jonas
who penned Munich
as well as the columnist and poet/playwright Rory Winston
.
poetry, read the memoir My Happy Days in Hell, became enchanted with the author, and traveled to Hungary in search of Faludy. At this time he began to learn Hungarian
and finally caught up with Faludy three years later in Malta. He became his secretary, translator, co-author and partner for the next 36 years. In 2002, Faludy married a 26 year old poet, Fanny Kovács. Johnson left for Kathmandu, Nepal, and died there in February 2004. Faludy published poems written jointly with his wife.
. His poem Michelangelo's Last Prayer, chosen by the poet, will be carved on the plaque in English and in Hungarian.
Anglicisation
Anglicisation, or anglicization , is the process of converting verbal or written elements of any other language into a form that is more comprehensible to an English speaker, or, more generally, of altering something such that it becomes English in form or character.The term most often refers to...
as George Faludy, was a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
-Jewish
History of the Jews in Hungary
Hungarian Jews have existed since at least the 11th century. After struggling against discrimination throughout the Middle Ages, by the early 20th century the community grew to be 5% of Hungary's population , and were prominent in science, the arts and business...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer and translator.
Notable works
Faludy's translations of the ballads of François VillonFrançois Villon
François Villon was a French poet, thief, and vagabond. He is perhaps best known for his Testaments and his Ballade des Pendus, written while in prison...
, and even more prominent rewritings (as he admitted several times), brought him huge popularity on their initial publication in 1934, and have been since published about forty times. He could have hardly expressed these ideas in any other way in his time. He wrote several volumes of poetry as well, some of which were published in English. – His other outstanding success was My Happy Days in Hell (Pokolbéli víg napjaim), a memoir first published in 1962 in English translation, which was translated to French and German as well, but did not appear in the original Hungarian until much later.
Travels, vicissitudes, and the memoirs born from them
Faludy completed his schooling in the Fasori Evangélikus GimnáziumFasori Gimnázium
Fasori Gimnázium , also known as Fasori Evangélikus Gimnázium , official name: Budapest-Fasori Evangélikus Gimnázium, is a famous secondary school in Budapest, Hungary...
and studied at the Universities of Vienna, Berlin and Graz. During these times he developed radical liberalist views, which he maintained till the very last days of his life.
In 1938, he left Hungary for Paris because of his Jewish ancestry, and then for the U.S. During World War II, he served in the American forces. He arrived back in Hungary in 1946. In April 1947 he was among a group that destroyed a Budapest statue of Ottokár Prohászka
Ottokár Prohászka
----Ottokár Prohászka - April 2, 1927, Budapest) was a Hungarian Roman Catholic theologian and Bishop of Székesfehérvár from 1905 until his death.- External links :* * * * *...
, a Hungarian bishop who is respected by many but who is often considered antisemitic. He only admitted his participation forty years later.
In 1949 he was condemned with fictitious accusations and was sent to the labor camp of Recsk for three years. During this time, he lectured other prisoners in literature, history and philosophy. After his release he made his living by translation. In 1956 (after the Revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
) he escaped again to the West. He settled in London, and was the editor of a Hungarian literary journal.
It was during his stay in London that Faludy wrote his memoir, which was soon translated to English, by which he is still best known outside Hungary: My Happy Days in Hell. (It was only published in his native tongue in 1987, and since then in several further editions.) He moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in 1967 and lived there for twenty years. He gave lectures in Canada and the U.S. and was the editor of Hungarian literary journals. In 1976, he received a Canadian citizenship and two years later was elected as an honorary doctor of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he regularly taught. His poems were published in New York in 1980 (see below with the other collections).
In 1988 Faludy returned to Hungary. After the change of regime, his works, which were forbidden, confiscated, destroyed and distributed as samizdat
Samizdat
Samizdat was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from reader to reader...
during the Communist period, were at last published in Hungary. New collections of poems appeared in the 1990s, and several translations. In 1994 he received the most prestigious award in Hungary, the Kossuth Prize
Kossuth Prize
The Kossuth Prize is a state-sponsored award in Hungary, named after the Hungarian politician and revolutionary Lajos Kossuth. The Prize was established in 1948 by the Hungarian National Assembly, to acknowledge outstanding personal and group achievements in the fields of...
. In 2000 he published the sequel of My Happy Days in Hell: "After My Days in Hell" in Hungarian (no data available about any English translation), about his life after the labour camp. In the years preceding his death, Faludy was considered not only as a poet, a writer and a translator but as a living legend as well in Hungary.
Renowned for his anecdotes as well as his writing, he was a celebrated wit whose life story attracted the attentions of many a foreign author. Besides the many European based authors who visited Faludy, there was the Canadian author George Jonas
George Jonas
George Jonas is a Hungarian-born Canadian writer and columnist. He is the author of 15 books. They include Vengeance , the story of an Israeli operation to kill the terrorists responsible for the 1972 Munich massacre...
who penned Munich
Munich (film)
Munich is a 2005 historical fiction film about the Israeli government's secret retaliation attacks after the massacre of Israeli athletes by the Black September terrorist group during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The film stars Eric Bana and was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg...
as well as the columnist and poet/playwright Rory Winston
Turn left at Gilgamesh
Turn left at Gilgamesh is a play by , in which civilization develops solely through a series of misunderstandings.Winston's first full-length effort, Turn Left at Gilgamesh centers around 3 characters whose every effort to be understood furthers their sense of alienation...
.
Relationships
Faludy's second wife, Zsuzsa Szegő, died in the 1960s. They had a son, Andrew. In 1963 Eric Johnson (1937–2004), a US ballet dancer and later a renowned poet in contemporary LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
poetry, read the memoir My Happy Days in Hell, became enchanted with the author, and traveled to Hungary in search of Faludy. At this time he began to learn Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
and finally caught up with Faludy three years later in Malta. He became his secretary, translator, co-author and partner for the next 36 years. In 2002, Faludy married a 26 year old poet, Fanny Kovács. Johnson left for Kathmandu, Nepal, and died there in February 2004. Faludy published poems written jointly with his wife.
A memorial park in Toronto
By 2006, a memorial park will be built in his honor designed by the architect Scott Torrence, facing his former apartment. It was initiated by the Toronto Heritage Project to commemorate the outstanding cultural figures of the city. A bronze plaque will be placed in the park with his portrait, made by the Hungarian-born sculptor Dora de Pedery-HuntDora de Pedery-Hunt
Dora de Pedery-Hunt, CM, O.Ont was an artist who designed various coins and medals and was awarded the Order of Canada. On September 29, 2008, she died from colorectal cancer....
. His poem Michelangelo's Last Prayer, chosen by the poet, will be carved on the plaque in English and in Hungarian.
See also
Works published in English
- 1962: My Happy Days in Hell; reissued 1985, ISBN 0002174618; 2003, ISBN 9632065840
- 1966: City of Splintered Gods; translated by Flora Papastavrou
- 1970: Erasmus of Rotterdam. ISBN 0413269906; 1971, ISBN 0812814444
- 1978: East and West: Selected Poems of George Faludy; edited by John Robert Colombo; with a profile of the poet by Barbara Amiel. Toronto: Hounslow Press ISBN 0888820259
- 1983: George Faludy: Learn This Poem of Mine by Heart: sixty poems and one speech. ISBN 0888820607; edited by John Robert Colombo
- 1985: George Faludy: Selected Poems 1933-80. ISBN 0820308145, ISBN 0820308099; edited by Robin Skelton
- 1987: Corpses, Brats, and Cricket Music: Hullák, kamaszok, tücsökzene: poems. ISBN 0919758290
- 1988: Notes From the Rainforest. ISBN 0888821042
- 2006: Two for Faludy. ISBN 155246718-x edited by John Robert Colombo
Works published in Hungarian
N.B. Bp. = Budapest- Jegyzetek az esőerdőből. Budapest. 1991. Magyar Világ Kiadó, 208 p.
- Test és lélek. A világlíra 1400 gyöngyszeme. Műfordítások. Szerk.: Fóti Edit. Ill.: Kass János. Bp. 1988. Magyar Világ, 760 p.
- 200 szonett. Versek. Bp. 1990. Magyar Világ, 208 p.
- Erotikus versek. A világlíra 50 gyöngyszeme. Szerk.: Fóti Edit. Ill.: Karakas András. Bp. 1990. Magyar Világ, 72 p.
- Dobos az éjszakában. Válogatott versek. Szerk.: Fóti Edit. Bp. 1992. Magyar Világ, 320 p.
- Jegyzetek a kor margójára. Publicisztika. Bp. 1994. Magyar Világ, 206 p.
- 100 könnyű szonett. Bp. 1995. Magyar Világ, [lapszám nélkül].
- Versek. Összegyűjtött versek. Bp. 1995. Magyar Világ, 848 p., 2001. Magyar Világ Kiadó 943 p.
- Vitorlán Kekovába. Versek. Bp. 1998. Magyar Világ, 80 p.
- Pokolbeli víg napjaim. Visszaemlékezés.
- Bp., 1987, AB Független K.
- ISBN 963 7815 00 7 (Bp., 1989, Magyar Világ)
- ISBN 963 9075 07 8 (Bp., 1998, Magyar Világ)
- ISBN 963 9075 34 5 (Bp., 2005, cop. 1998, Magyar Világ)
- Pokolbeli napjaim után. ISBN 9639075094.
- A Pokol tornácán. ISBN 9633699452.
- Faludy tárlata: Limerickek. Glória kiadó. 2001.
- A forradalom emlékezete (Faludy Zsuzsával közösen). ISBN 9633700337
- Heirich HeineVálogatott versek Faludy György fordításában és Németország Faludy György átköltésében. Egy kötetben. Alexandra Kiadó. 2006.
External links
- György Faludy (1910 -), short biography and two poems from European Cultural Review
- György FALUDI (1910-2006), timeline of life and works at HunLit.hu
- Rory Winston, "At Home with homelessness", October 2, 2006, The New York Resident, 2 October 2006
- Albert Tezla, "Faludy György", Hungarian Authors: A bibliographical Handbook, Belknap Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1970. SBN 674 42650 9
- George Jonas, "The poet and the ballet dancer", The National Post, 8 March 2004
- "Interview with the poet Gyorgy Faludy: Literature will not survive the 21st century", hvg.hu, 6 June 2006
- Sandor Peto, Hungarian poet Gyorgy Faludy dies aged 96, ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
, 2 September 2006 - Gyorgy Faludy, The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, 14 September 2006 - Hungarian poet and translator Gyorgy Faludy dies at 95, International Herald TribuneInternational Herald TribuneThe International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
, September 2, 2006. - City of Toronto names public space in honour of Hungarian-Canadian poet George Faludy, October 3, 2006
