author
Attila József
1905–1937
Born into poverty in Budapest, this brilliant Hungarian poet turned hardship, politics, and private anguish into spare, unforgettable verse. Little celebrated during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the defining voices of 20th-century Hungarian literature.
1 Audiobook
Nem én kiáltok
by Attila József
About the author
Raised in difficult circumstances after his father left the family and his mother died when he was still young, Attila József developed an early feel for the insecurity and dignity of working-class life. He studied in Hungary and abroad, wrote criticism and translations as well as poetry, and became involved with the political and intellectual debates of his time.
His poems are admired for combining emotional directness with sharp thought. He could write with tenderness, anger, philosophical depth, and startling clarity, moving from intimate personal pain to the pressures of modern city life and social injustice.
Although he died in 1937 at just thirty-two, his reputation grew enormously after his death. Today he is widely seen as one of Hungary’s greatest modern poets, and his work continues to speak to readers through its honesty, musical language, and intense humanity.