János Pilinszky
Encyclopedia
János Pilinszky was a Hungarian poet.
Well known within the Hungarian borders for his vast influence on postwar Hungarian
poetry
, Pilinszky’s style includes a juxtaposition of Roman Catholic
faith and intellectual disenchantment. His poetry often focuses on the underlying sensations of life and death; his time as a prisoner of war
during the Second World War and later his life under the communist dictatorship furthered his isolation and estrangement.
Born in a family of intellectuals in 1921, Pilinszky went on to study Hungarian literature, law, and art history at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, in 1938. Although he failed to complete his studies, it was during this same year that his first works of poetry were published in several varying literary journals. In 1944 he was drafted into the army; his unit being ordered to follow the retreating German allies, he arrived to Harbach, a small village in Germany, after a march of several weeks. Adrift in Germany, he witnessed several camps before he could return to Hungary after the end of the war, most notably the Ravensbrück concentration camp
. What he saw in the camps was an experience he never forgot and later commemorated in a great number of poems, most notably, ("KZ oratory"), ("Passion of Ravensbrück"), , etc.
Following the publication of his first body of work in 1946, ("Trapeze and Bars"), he was awarded the Baumgarten Prize
in 1947. While Trapéz és korlát consists of only 18 poems, it established Pilinszky as a major poetic force in Hungary.
His next publication, 1959’s ("On the third day"), was not released for over 10 years as a result of his being labeled “pessimistic” by the ruling Hungarian Communist Party
in the 1950s. Harmadnapon contains his poem ("Apocrypha
"), considered his chef-d'oeuvre
, which many see as one of the highest peaks of Hungarian poetry. The poem has the return of the prodigal son to his parents in its centre, and summarises Pilinszky's poetic world from his experiences in the lagers to his alienation and the painful absence of God from the world.
From 1960 to 1970, he travelled the United States
and Europe
taking part in several poetry readings. In 1971 he was awarded the József Attila Prize for his collection entitled ("Metropolitan Icons"). His monumental and visionary poems gave way to short, epigrammatic verses over time. 1972 saw the publication of ("Splinters"), followed by ("Dénouement") in 1974. His last collection, ("Crater") was published in 1975, containing both new poems and the majority of his rather short, but extremely substantial and concise oeuvre rearranged in cycles. He was awarded the Kossuth Prize
in 1980 before returning to Budapest where he died of a heart attack
in 1981.
Pilinszky lead a very reserved private life. He discovered his homosexuality
at a very early age, but due to his deep Christian beliefs he purged it in himself for the rest of his life.http://spiritusz.freeblog.hu/archives/2007/02/11/Tudoskozelben_Czeizel_Endre/ Eventually he married a French woman, Ingrid Ficheux, 11 months before his death.
His poems were translated into several languages; most notably, his English
translator was Ted Hughes
(in collaboration with János Csokits), while most French
translations were made by his friend Pierre Emmanuel
.
Well known within the Hungarian borders for his vast influence on postwar 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...
poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, Pilinszky’s style includes a juxtaposition of Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Hungary
The Roman Catholic Church in Hungary is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome....
faith and intellectual disenchantment. His poetry often focuses on the underlying sensations of life and death; his time as a 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...
during the Second World War and later his life under the communist dictatorship furthered his isolation and estrangement.
Born in a family of intellectuals in 1921, Pilinszky went on to study Hungarian literature, law, and art history at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, in 1938. Although he failed to complete his studies, it was during this same year that his first works of poetry were published in several varying literary journals. In 1944 he was drafted into the army; his unit being ordered to follow the retreating German allies, he arrived to Harbach, a small village in Germany, after a march of several weeks. Adrift in Germany, he witnessed several camps before he could return to Hungary after the end of the war, most notably the Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
. What he saw in the camps was an experience he never forgot and later commemorated in a great number of poems, most notably, ("KZ oratory"), ("Passion of Ravensbrück"), , etc.
Following the publication of his first body of work in 1946, ("Trapeze and Bars"), he was awarded the Baumgarten Prize
Baumgarten Prize
The Baumgarten Prize was founded by Ferenc Ferdinánd Baumgarten on October 17, 1923. It was awarded every year from 1929 to 1949...
in 1947. While Trapéz és korlát consists of only 18 poems, it established Pilinszky as a major poetic force in Hungary.
His next publication, 1959’s ("On the third day"), was not released for over 10 years as a result of his being labeled “pessimistic” by the ruling Hungarian Communist Party
Hungarian Communist Party
The Communist Party of Hungary , renamed Hungarian Communist Party in 1945, was founded on November 24, 1918, and was in power in Hungary briefly from March to August 1919 under Béla Kun and the Hungarian Soviet Republic. The communist government was overthrown by the Romanian Army and driven...
in the 1950s. Harmadnapon contains his poem ("Apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
"), considered his chef-d'oeuvre
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, which many see as one of the highest peaks of Hungarian poetry. The poem has the return of the prodigal son to his parents in its centre, and summarises Pilinszky's poetic world from his experiences in the lagers to his alienation and the painful absence of God from the world.
From 1960 to 1970, he travelled the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
taking part in several poetry readings. In 1971 he was awarded the József Attila Prize for his collection entitled ("Metropolitan Icons"). His monumental and visionary poems gave way to short, epigrammatic verses over time. 1972 saw the publication of ("Splinters"), followed by ("Dénouement") in 1974. His last collection, ("Crater") was published in 1975, containing both new poems and the majority of his rather short, but extremely substantial and concise oeuvre rearranged in cycles. He was awarded 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 1980 before returning to Budapest where he died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1981.
Pilinszky lead a very reserved private life. He discovered his homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
at a very early age, but due to his deep Christian beliefs he purged it in himself for the rest of his life.http://spiritusz.freeblog.hu/archives/2007/02/11/Tudoskozelben_Czeizel_Endre/ Eventually he married a French woman, Ingrid Ficheux, 11 months before his death.
His poems were translated into several languages; most notably, his English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translator was Ted Hughes
Ted Hughes
Edward James Hughes OM , more commonly known as Ted Hughes, was an English poet and children's writer. Critics routinely rank him as one of the best poets of his generation. Hughes was British Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.Hughes was married to American poet Sylvia Plath, from 1956 until...
(in collaboration with János Csokits), while most French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
translations were made by his friend Pierre Emmanuel
Pierre Emmanuel
Noël Mathieu better known under his pseudonym Pierre Emmanuel, was a French poet of Christian inspiration...
.
External links
- 'Apocrypha' by János Pilinszky (English translation by Ted Hughes and János Csokits)