Géza Gyóni
Encyclopedia
Géza Gyóni was a Hungarian poet under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He died in a Tsarist
prisoner of war
camp during the First World War.
in modern Hungary, south of Budapest
, after he learned at the high school in Békéscsaba. Gyóni adopted the name of his birthplace after dropping out of theological studies in the capital. His first collection of poetry, named simply Versek (Poems) was published in the same year, 1903. This marked a very low period in his life, in which Gyóni sought to free himself from his father's demands and even attempted suicide, before being transferred to an administrative course which led to a job in Budapest. In the city he was increasingly drawn to journalists and poets, contributing to the literary journal Nyugat
and beginning a long rivalry with the contemporary leading poet of Hungary Endre Ady
, who he criticized in his second collection, Szomorú szemmel (With sorrowful eyes) in 1909.
, and spent eighteen months working on railways lines, improving communications in case of war, an experience he did not enjoy, breeding a strong streak of pacifism
in him. During this time and the following two years he continued working on his poetry in Budapest, until he was called up again in 1912 during the crisis caused by the Balkan Wars
. His works in this period were later collected following his death, and posthumously published in 1917 as Élet szeretője (Lover of Life).
, Gyóni was highly suspicious of his government's motives, but nonetheless seemed initially to enjoy the soldier's life, regularly writing poetry which was sent back home from the front for publication. This was the last collection he saw published and is considered by many to be his most interesting, as the optimism of early days gives way to pessimism following his experiences in the Siege of Przemyśl
. This collection was named Lengyel mezőkön, tábortúz melett (By the campfire on Polish prairies). Home in Hungary, the politician Rákosi, knowing the poetic rivalry between Gyóni and Ady, who was now his main political rival too, used Gyóni's work as propaganda without permission. This greatly angered the poet, whose poetry took a depressive turn following his entrapment in the siege and the situation at home. One of his poems from this period, Csak egy éjszakára (Just for one night) became a prominent anti-war song which lasted in Hungary well beyond the end of the First World War.
, Moscow
, Alatyr
, Petropavlovsk
, Omsk
and finally to Krasnoyarsk
in Siberia. It was in this camp that he learnt of the full actions of Jenó Rákosi, a politician who had been manipulating the poet's verse for propaganda value. Gyóni had only caught rumour before, and was enraged by what he learned.
He went on to write perhaps his finest poetry in the quiet and boredom he found there, producing the collections Levlek a kálváriáról és más költemények (Letters from Calvary and Other Poems) in 1916 which was published at home with manuscripts sent across the lines, and Rabságban (In Prison) which was posthumously published in 1919.
A Hungarian bard's is my fate
To carry across the world
My bloodied, crusading Magyarhood
Like a pilgrim with a picture of Christ
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp during the First World War.
Early life
Born Géza Áchim to " crusading Lutheran family" in the small village of Gyón near DabasDabas
Dabas is a Jat Gotra, contributing the "Dabas" family name to its members.They have 16 villages in Delhi, in the neighborhood of Dahiya Jats and are closely related to the latter. They are not descendants of Dahiya Jats but came along with them from Rajputana.According to puranic legend Dabas are...
in modern Hungary, south of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, after he learned at the high school in Békéscsaba. Gyóni adopted the name of his birthplace after dropping out of theological studies in the capital. His first collection of poetry, named simply Versek (Poems) was published in the same year, 1903. This marked a very low period in his life, in which Gyóni sought to free himself from his father's demands and even attempted suicide, before being transferred to an administrative course which led to a job in Budapest. In the city he was increasingly drawn to journalists and poets, contributing to the literary journal Nyugat
Nyugat
Nyugat , was the most influential Hungarian literary journal in the first half of the 20th century. Writers and poets from that era are referred to as "1st/2nd/3rd generation of the NYUGAT"....
and beginning a long rivalry with the contemporary leading poet of Hungary Endre Ady
Endre Ady
Endre Ady was a Hungarian poet.-Biography:Ady was born in Érmindszent, Szilágy county . He belonged to an impoverished Calvinist noble family...
, who he criticized in his second collection, Szomorú szemmel (With sorrowful eyes) in 1909.
Military service
In November 1907, Gyóni was called up to the Austro-Hungarian ArmyAustro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
, and spent eighteen months working on railways lines, improving communications in case of war, an experience he did not enjoy, breeding a strong streak of pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
in him. During this time and the following two years he continued working on his poetry in Budapest, until he was called up again in 1912 during the crisis caused by the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
. His works in this period were later collected following his death, and posthumously published in 1917 as Élet szeretője (Lover of Life).
War Service & Death
At the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Gyóni was highly suspicious of his government's motives, but nonetheless seemed initially to enjoy the soldier's life, regularly writing poetry which was sent back home from the front for publication. This was the last collection he saw published and is considered by many to be his most interesting, as the optimism of early days gives way to pessimism following his experiences in the Siege of Przemyśl
Siege of Przemysl
The Siege of Przemyśl was one of the greatest sieges of the First World War, and a crushing defeat for Austria-Hungary. The investment of Przemyśl began on September 24, 1914 and was briefly suspended on October 11 due to an Austro-Hungarian offensive...
. This collection was named Lengyel mezőkön, tábortúz melett (By the campfire on Polish prairies). Home in Hungary, the politician Rákosi, knowing the poetic rivalry between Gyóni and Ady, who was now his main political rival too, used Gyóni's work as propaganda without permission. This greatly angered the poet, whose poetry took a depressive turn following his entrapment in the siege and the situation at home. One of his poems from this period, Csak egy éjszakára (Just for one night) became a prominent anti-war song which lasted in Hungary well beyond the end of the First World War.
Prisoner of War
Captured in March 1915, Gyóni was permitted to remain with his younger brother Mihály Áchim, who had also been captured following the siege. They endured together the lengthy nine-month journey between POW receiving areas, travelling between KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Alatyr
Alatyr
Alatyr may refer to:*Alatyr River, a river in Russia*Alatyr, Chuvash Republic, a town in the Chuvash Republic, Russia*Alatyr, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, a village in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia...
, Petropavlovsk
Petropavlovsk
Petropavlovsk may refer to:*Petropavlovsk plc, a mining company listed on the London Stock Exchange-Ships:*Battleship Petropavlovsk , Imperial Russia...
, Omsk
Omsk
-History:The wooden fort of Omsk was erected in 1716 to protect the expanding Russian frontier along the Ishim and the Irtysh rivers against the Kyrgyz nomads of the Steppes...
and finally to Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
in Siberia. It was in this camp that he learnt of the full actions of Jenó Rákosi, a politician who had been manipulating the poet's verse for propaganda value. Gyóni had only caught rumour before, and was enraged by what he learned.
He went on to write perhaps his finest poetry in the quiet and boredom he found there, producing the collections Levlek a kálváriáról és más költemények (Letters from Calvary and Other Poems) in 1916 which was published at home with manuscripts sent across the lines, and Rabságban (In Prison) which was posthumously published in 1919.
Death
Gyóni died in the camp on his 33rd birthday, the result of his rapidly declining health and mental state following his brother's death from disease on the 8 June. He wrote a poem in captivity which represented his attitude to life entitled Magyar bárd sorsa (A Hungarian bard's fate).A Hungarian bard's is my fate
To carry across the world
My bloodied, crusading Magyarhood
Like a pilgrim with a picture of Christ
Collections
- 1903 - Versek (Poems)
- 1909 - Szomorú szemmel (With sorrowful eyes)
- 1914 - Lengyel mezőkön, tábortűz melett (By the campfire on Polish prairies)
- 1916 - Levlek a kálváriáról és más költemények (Letters from Calvary and Other Poems)
- 1917 - Élet szeretője (Lover of Life) (posthumous)
- 1919 - Rabságban (In Prison) (posthumous)