Perhaps you have heard of József Attila. Kormos István also won the József Attila Prize twice. This bust commemorates Kormos István a notable figure in Hungarian literature. Let me tell you more about him.
Kormos István was born in Mosonszentmiklós in 1923. He died in Budapest in 1977. He was a poet translator and editor. Kormos received the József Attila Prize in 1955 and 1972. This prize recognizes outstanding achievements in Hungarian literature.
Kormos began his studies in Győr. However he only completed six grades. In 1936 Kormos moved to Angyalföld with his grandparents. At 16 he worked as a bicycle delivery boy. From 1940 to 1946 he was an official in a grocery store.
Later Kormos worked as a reader. He worked at the Art Council of the Ministry of Religion and Public Education. He also worked at the University Press. He was also employed at the Szikra Publishing House. In 1948 he joined the National Book Office.
From 1949 to 1950 Kormos was a dramaturg. He worked for the Hungarian Film Production National Company. In 1950 he joined Móra Publishing House for Youth. He remained its editor-in-chief until his death. Kormos edited the Kozmosz series. This series launched many talented poets.
From 1963 Kormos spent three years in Paris with some interruptions. He worked as a reader for Seuil and Gallimard publishers. He was also a friend of Gara László.
Kormos István first appeared in literature with rhyming tales in 1946. His first collection of poems was Düldöngélünk in 1947. After that he did not publish a book of poems for a long time. He wrote and edited works for children.
His poems appeared in Népszabadság and Élet és Irodalom. Kormos’s poetry is characterized by emotional identification with poverty. It also has a unique folk surrealist tone.
Kormos István’s work as a translator is remarkable. He translated Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. He also translated works by Burns and Pushkin. He was an excellent interpreter. He translated modern French and lesser-known European literature. A television portrait film was made about him in 1977.
Kormos István’s personal life was turbulent. He had a restless lifestyle. His peers could not accept it. The constant divorces caused continuous moving. He faced financial difficulties. He had an ever-changing daily routine. His last marriage brought some calm. Sadly he could not enjoy it for long. He died of a heart attack seven years later.
His second wife was Rab Zsuzsa. She was a poet and translator. Together they translated a volume of Russian folk poetry. Kormos István created many outstanding children’s literature works. He died in Budapest on October 6 1977. He was 53 years old.
So when you look at this bust of Kormos István remember his literary contributions. Think about his life. He was a talented poet translator and editor who left a lasting mark on Hungarian culture.