János Arany

Born in Nagyszalonta in 1817, he became a central figure of 19th-century Hungarian literature as a poet, writer, translator, and journalist. He is especially associated with the Toldi poems, which drew on Hungarian history and legend and helped establish his reputation.

He also became famous for his ballads, admired for their dramatic power and musical language. Alongside his original poetry, he translated major works into Hungarian, including Shakespeare, and his writing has long held an important place in Hungarian culture.

Arany died in Budapest in 1882. He is still widely read and is often seen as one of the defining literary voices of Hungary’s national tradition.