Elek Benedek

Born in 1859 in what is now Romania, he became one of the most beloved figures in Hungarian children's literature. He worked as a writer, journalist, and editor, and built his reputation through retellings of folk tales, legends, and stories for young readers.

His name is especially linked with collecting and reshaping Hungarian folk material in a lively, accessible style. Alongside fairy tales and story collections, he also wrote for newspapers and magazines, helping make literature for children a central part of Hungarian reading life.

He died in 1929, but his books remained widely known long afterward. For many readers, he stands as a classic guide to the world of Hungarian folk storytelling.