BABITS, MIHÁLY. - Hungarian writer, b. at Szegszárd on 26 Nov. 1883, d. in 1942. He taught philosophy at the Cistercian institute in Baja, but soon abandoned teaching to devote himself exclusively to literature. A contributor to the journal Nyugat (West), he later became its editor. Impeccable form, depth of thought, richness and originality of language characterize his lyric poetry and his prose.

His translations of Dante, Shakespeare, Shelley, Poe, and Baudelaire are excellent. His Literary History of Europe is noteworthy. B. exercised a great influence on the modern literature of Hungary as well as, in a certain sense, on that of neighboring countries. Through a long and interesting spiritual travail, B. arrived at the full acceptance of Catholicism. One of the most significant works of the last period of his life is the Amor Sanctus, a Hungarian translation of medieval sacred hymns. But in all his writings it is possible to see the defensor fidei, the champion of God. His translation of the Divina Commedia, on which he worked for more than ten years, is considered the most perfect that exists in the Hungarian language.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: A. Schöpflin, Magyar Irók, Budapest 1916; I. Hankiss-G. Juhász, Littérature Hongroise, Paris 1930.

Alessandro Alessandrini

@incollection{ec2_babits_mihaly, author = {Alessandro Alessandrini}, title = {Babits, mihály}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {II}, pages = {641--642}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/babits-mihaly} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Babits, Mihály

About this entry