Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Attila József

Role / Field:

A seminal Hungarian poet of the 20th century, celebrated for his proletarian themes.

Born:

1905-04-11

Died:

1937-12-03

Century / Era:

1905s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Attila József (11 April 1905 – 3 December 1937) was one of the most famous Hungarian poets of the 20th century. Generally not recognized during his lifetime, József was hailed during the communist era of the 1950s as Hungary's great "proletarian poet" and he has become the best known of the modern Hungarian poets internationally. Attila József was born in Ferencváros, a poor district of Budapest, in 1905 to Áron József, a soap factory worker of Székely and Romanian origin from Banat, and Borbála Pőcze, a Hungarian peasant girl with Cuman ancestry; he had two elder sisters, Eta and Jolán. When Attila was three years old, he was sent to live with foster parents after his father abandoned the family and his mother became ill.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

At the time of his birth, Attila was not a well known name; because of this, his foster parents called him Pista, a nickname for the Hungarian version of Stephen. From ages seven to fourteen, Attila returned to living with his mother until she died of cancer in 1919, aged only 43. While also attending school, he worked many odd jobs and was a self-described street urchin. After the death of his mother, the teenage Attila was looked after by his brother...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolph Menzel — Contemporary (Died in 1905) (1905): Pioneering German Realist master, celebrated for his detailed etchings and genre scenes.
• Agnes de Mille — Contemporary (Born in 1905) (1905): Pioneering American choreographer known for blending ballet with modern dance.
• Albert Pierrepoint — Contemporary (Born in 1905) (1905): Prominent English hangman who executed hundreds of people in a 25-year career.
• Alain Badiou — Contemporary (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.
• Alberto de Oliveira — Contemporary (Died in 1937) (1937): Brazilian poet, pharmacist, and professor, known by the pen name Alberto de Oliveira.
• Aleksandr Medved — Contemporary (Born in 1937) (1937): Legendary Soviet/Belarussian freestyle wrestler, celebrated for Olympic dominance.
• Anawrahta — Shared historical date (04-11 · Died) (1077): Founder of the Pagan Empire, unifying Upper Burma and establishing Burmese national identity.
• Andrew Wiles — Shared historical date (04-11 · Born) (1953): English mathematician renowned for proving Fermat's Last Theorem.
• Abimael Guzmán — Shared historical date (12-03 · Born) (1934): Peruvian Maoist revolutionary leader, founder of the Shining Path.
• Agnes Chow — Shared historical date (12-03 · Born) (1996): Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and political candidate.
• 1905 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1905
• April 11 (04-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 11
• 1937 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1937
• December 3 (12-03) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 3

Frequently Asked Questions about Attila József