This book is a collection of poems and literary works by the Hungarian poet and revolutionary Sándor Petőfi. The included works range from political commentary to love poetry and are an important contribution to Hungarian literature.
Sándor Petőfi Book order
January 1, 1823 – July 31, 1849
Sándor Petőfi was a Hungarian national poet of Serb and Slovak descent, and a pivotal figure in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. He began his career with so-called "popular situation songs," soon developing an original and fresh voice that set him apart. While deeply influenced by folk poetry and 19th-century populism, Petőfi also creatively drew upon contemporary literary trends and the works of significant authors of his era. His early poems, exploring themes of wine, love, and adventure, quickly became classics for their innovative spirit and relatable touch.
- 2023
- 2004
John the Valiant
- 164 pages
- 6 hours of reading
Arguably the greatest and most popular poem in the Hungarian language, this first unabridged translation of Petöfi’s spirited folk epic, which recounts the adventures of a young and valiant shepherd boy, has all the charm and romance of a classic fairy tale. After a reluctant farewell to the beautiful Nelly, Johnny Grain o’ Corn embarks on a series of incredible adventures that take him across land and sea, in the company of bandits, giants, and wicked witches. After he reunites a French princess with her father, the young shepherd must decide whether to accept the king’s gracious offer to ascend to the throne of France or to return to his beloved Nelly. Hungarian poet and patriot Sándor Petöfi extended the range of his nation’s poetry beyond any predecessor, creating an important new synthesis of poetic technique and realistic subject matter.
