Attila Jozsef (1905-1937) is one of the most renowned Hungarian poets of the 20th century who gained recognition for his literary achievement only after his tragic death in 1937. Attila Jozsef, a Hungarian poet of working-class origin, endured a tragic childhood marked by the early loss of both parents. Born to an unskilled worker and a washerwoman, he was orphaned at a young age. Despite these hardships, Jozsef pursued higher education, studying Hungarian and French literature at the University of Szeged. However, his academic career was abruptly cut short in 1925 after a disagreement with a conservative professor over his poem 'With a Pure Heart' ('Tiszta szivvel'). This led him to continue his studies in Vienna and Paris. In the 1920s, he sympathized with anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist ideals. From 1930 to 1933, Jozsef actively participated in the illegal Communist Party. However, he was expelled due to his growing disillusionment with the Party's Moscow-inspired ideology and his burgeoning interest in Freudian psychoanalysis. Despite his undeniable talent, Jozsef remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. Even his final poetic period, marked by his work as managing editor of the independent leftist review Szep Szo, failed to bring him widespread acclaim. His final collection, Nagyon faj ('How It Hurts'), published in 1936, met with poor sales.

Attila Jozsef (1905-1937) is one of the most renowned Hungarian poets of the 20th century who gained recognition for his literary achievement only after his tragic death in 1937. Attila Jozsef, a Hungarian poet of working-class origin, endured a tragic childhood marked by the early loss of both parents. Born to an unskilled worker and a washerwoman, he was orphaned at a young age. Despite these hardships, Jozsef pursued higher education, studying Hungarian and French literature at the University of Szeged. However, his academic career was abruptly cut short in 1925 after a disagreement with a conservative professor over his poem 'With a Pure Heart' ('Tiszta szivvel'). This led him to continue his studies in Vienna and Paris. In the 1920s, he sympathized with anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist ideals. From 1930 to 1933, Jozsef actively participated in the illegal Communist Party. However, he was expelled due to his growing disillusionment with the Party's Moscow-inspired ideology and his burgeoning interest in Freudian psychoanalysis. Despite his undeniable talent, Jozsef remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. Even his final poetic period, marked by his work as managing editor of the independent leftist review Szep Szo, failed to bring him widespread acclaim. His final collection, Nagyon faj ('How It Hurts'), published in 1936, met with poor sales.

Attila Jozsef (1905-1937) is one of the most renowned Hungarian poets of the 20th century who gained recognition for his literary achievement only after his tragic death in 1937. Attila Jozsef, a Hungarian poet of working-class origin, endured a tragic childhood marked by the early loss of both parents. Born to an unskilled worker and a washerwoman, he was orphaned at a young age. Despite these hardships, Jozsef pursued higher education, studying Hungarian and French literature at the University of Szeged. However, his academic career was abruptly cut short in 1925 after a disagreement with a conservative professor over his poem 'With a Pure Heart' ('Tiszta szivvel'). This led him to continue his studies in Vienna and Paris. In the 1920s, he sympathized with anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist ideals. From 1930 to 1933, Jozsef actively participated in the illegal Communist Party. However, he was expelled due to his growing disillusionment with the Party's Moscow-inspired ideology and his burgeoning interest in Freudian psychoanalysis. Despite his undeniable talent, Jozsef remained largely unrecognized during his lifetime. Even his final poetic period, marked by his work as managing editor of the independent leftist review Szep Szo, failed to bring him widespread acclaim. His final collection, Nagyon faj ('How It Hurts'), published in 1936, met with poor sales.