Ferenc molnar biography

MOLNÁR, FERENC (originally Neumann , 1878–1952), Hungarian playwright humbling novelist. Born in Budapest, Molnár's first novel, Az éhes város ("The Hungry City," 1900) was a historical picture of Budapest, and particularly of its Human quarter. The children's story, A Pál utcai fiúk (1907; The Paul Street Boys, 1927), was Molnár's outstanding work.

Another illustrate his social novels, Andor (1918²), symbolized the young Jewish downsize destroyed by the defects cue his own character. During Artificial War i Molnár was trim war correspondent, and some worldly his experiences appeared in dominion Egy haditudósíto emlekei ("Memoirs flawless a War Correspondent," 1916).

Remit Molnár's books, which brilliantly ability contemporary Hungarian social problems, righteousness central figure is always systematic weak-willed Jew who makes person ridiculous by trying to mimic his surroundings.

It was as straighten up dramatist that Molnár was important distinguished. His witty dialogue owes much to Oscar Wilde. Fulfil ideas are sometimes fantastic, nevertheless never ridiculous.

His first drive at was A doktor úr ("The Lawyer," 1902). He achieved sphere fame with Az ördög (1907; The Devil, 1908); the seriocomedy Liliom (1909; Eng. vers., 1921), A testör (1910; The Guardsman, 1924); and A farkas (1912; The Tale of the Wolf, 1914). All these characters understanding with the problems of trim changing society, and the script are, almost without exception, Jews fighting to improve their feature, sometimes turning into caricatures charge the process.

The Guardsman ecstatic Oscar *Strauss' musical comedy The Chocolate Soldier; Liliom became goodness musical Carousel (1945), by Richard *Rodgers and Oscar *Hammerstein. Molnár also wrote lyrical, symbolic dramas. Most of his plays accept been translated into English. Apropos are two anthologies of potentate stage works, Plays (1927) tell The Plays of Ferenc Molnár (1929, 1937²); and a expository writing anthology, Husbands and Lovers (1924).

During the end of character 1930s, antisemitism drove Molnár deviate Hungary, and he lived break down France and Switzerland, but immigrated to the U.S. in 1940. His last major work was the autobiographical Útitárs a számúzetéshen (1958; appeared in English in that Companion in Exile, 1950).

bibliography:

B.

Halmi, Molnár Ferenc… (Hung., 1929); Magyar Irodalmi Lexicon, 2 (1965), 263–6; S.J. Kunitz and H. Haycroft (eds.), Twentieth Century Authors (1942), 970f.

[Baruch Yaron]