Ferenc Molnár

Born in Budapest in 1878 as Ferenc Neumann, he studied law for a time before turning to journalism and literature. He went on to become a major figure in Hungarian writing, known as a playwright, novelist, and journalist, and his work reached audiences far beyond Hungary.

His reputation was built on lively, expertly crafted plays and on fiction that could be both funny and moving. Among his best-known works is The Paul Street Boys, a classic of youth literature, while his stage career made him internationally famous for dramas and comedies drawn from modern urban life.

Later in life he lived in the United States, and he died in New York City in 1952. Today he is still remembered for writing that feels theatrical in the best sense: quick, vivid, emotionally direct, and full of memorable characters.