Sunlight glints off the marble of the Hajnal Anna Plaque. This plaque, right here on Stefánia út 61, commemorates the life and work of Anna Hajnal. The inscription reads, “In this house lived and worked Anna Hajnal 1907-1977, poet, translator.” Hajnal Anna, born Anna Holzer, was a significant Hungarian poet of the 20th century. She was part of the third generation of writers associated with the influential literary journal Nyugat. This placed her amongst some of Hungary’s most celebrated literary figures.
The Hajnal Anna Plaque marks more than just a building. It represents a hub of creativity. Anna’s apartment here became a meeting place for the Tóth Árpád Society. This literary group, co-founded by Anna and Imre Trencsényi-Waldapfel, included prominent figures like Sándor Weöres, Miklós Radnóti, and Antal Szerb. Imagine the lively discussions and artistic debates that must have filled these rooms. They held readings, shared their work, and shaped the landscape of Hungarian literature.
Anna’s writing journey began in journals like Álláspont and Pásztortűz. Her first collection of poems, “Ébredj fel bennem, álom” (Awaken in me, dream), was published in 1935. The Hajnal Anna Plaque reminds us of her perseverance. She continued writing even during the difficult years of World War II. She even kept her yellow star from this period. After the war, Anna compiled her existing work into “Összegyűjtött verseim” (Collected Poems) in 1946. She faced a period of silence, unable to publish until 1952. But then, with the release of “Óriások százada” (Century of Giants), her voice reemerged, stronger than ever.
Anna’s work spanned a wide range of styles, from lyrical poetry to children’s verses and even translations. She translated works by renowned poets like Robert Burns, André Breton, Edward Lear, William Blake, and Algernon Charles Swinburne. Some of her poems were set to music by the Kaláka Ensemble and Judit Halász, further solidifying her place in Hungarian culture. Composer György Kósa even created a choral work based on her poems, titled “Három kórusmű Hajnal Anna verseire” (Three Choral Works on Poems by Anna Hajnal). The Hajnal Anna Plaque is a tribute to a prolific and versatile artist who dedicated her life to the written word. Her legacy lives on through her poems, translations, and the memories of those who gathered within these walls.