István Szomaházy

Born in Veszprém on February 28, 1864, and later active in Budapest, István Szomaházy was a Hungarian writer and journalist whose original name was Arnold Steiner. He studied in Veszprém and Budapest, then began working in journalism in the early 1880s, writing for major newspapers including Nemzet, Pesti Napló, Magyar Hírlap, and the literary weekly A Hét.

Szomaházy became known for his very productive output as a novelist, short-story writer, and feuilletonist. Reference works describe him as one of the most prolific entertainers of turn-of-the-century Hungarian literature, drawing inspiration from provincial life, Veszprém, the Bakony region, and the area around Lake Balaton. His fiction earned a wide readership for its humor, energy, and vivid imagination.

He died in Budapest on November 10, 1927. Although some English-language sources give conflicting death dates, Hungarian biographical references consistently list 1927, and his work remained well known afterward, with several stories and novels adapted for the screen.