''Nyugat'' (, ''West''; pronounced similar to ''New-Got''), was an important Hungarian literary journal in the first half of the 20th century. Writers and poets from that era are referred to as "1st/2nd/3rd generation of the NYUGAT".

History and profile

''Nyugat'' was founded in 1908 and initially edited by Ignotus (Hugo Veigelsberg),

Ernő Osvát Ernő Osvát (7 April 1877 – 28 October 1929) was a Hungarian writer and editor. His first article was published 1897 in the a Hungarian newspaper called ''Esti Újság''. He became the editor of the ''Magyar Géniusz'' in 1902, transforming i ...

, and Miksa Fenyő. The magazine was receptive and inspired by the styles and philosophies then current in Western Europe, including naturalism,

Symbolism Symbolism or symbolist may refer to: *Symbol, any object or sign that represents an idea Arts *Artistic symbol, an element of a literary, visual, or other work of art that represents an idea ** Color symbolism, the use of colors within various c ...

, and

impressionism Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...

. ''Nyugat'' published both poetry and prose writing. The first generation included the poets

Endre Ady Endre Ady (Hungarian: ''diósadi Ady András Endre,'' archaic English: Andrew Ady; 22 November 1877 – 27 January 1919) was a turn-of-the-century Hungarian poet and journalist. Regarded by many as the greatest Hungarian poet of the 20th centur ...

, Árpád Tóth,

Mihály Babits Mihály Babits (; 26 November 1883 – 4 August 1941) was a Hungarian poet, writer, essayist, and translator. His poems are well known for their intense religious themes. His novels such as “The Children of Death” (1927) explore psychol ...

Dezső Kosztolányi Dezső Kosztolányi (; March 29, 1885 – November 3, 1936) was a Hungarian writer, journalist, translator, and also a speaker of Esperanto. He wrote in all literary genres, from poetry to essays to theatre plays. Building his own style, he used ...

, Gyula Juhász and Géza Gyóni, and the novelists Gyula Krúdy and

Zsigmond Móricz Zsigmond Móricz (; 29 June 1879, Tiszacsécse – 4 September 1942) was a major Hungarian novelist and Social Realist. Biography Zsigmond Móricz was born in Tiszacsécse in 1879 to Bálint Móricz and Erzsébet (). On his mother's sid ...

. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, ''Nyugat'' was challenged in leftist literary circles, particularly the grouping around

Lajos Kassák Lajos Kassák (March 21, 1887 – July 22, 1967) was a Hungarian poet, novelist, painter, essayist, editor, theoretician of the avant-garde, and translator. Self-taught, he became a writer within the socialist movement and published journa ...

who published first '' A Tett'' and then '' MA''. This left ''Nyugat'' frustrated and depressed about the war. The second generation of ''Nyugat'' writers in the twenties – such as

Lőrinc Szabó Lőrinc Szabó de Gáborján ( ; Miskolc, 31 March 1900 – Budapest, 3 October 1957) was a Hungarian poet and literary translator. Biography He was born in Miskolc as the son of an engine driver, Lőrinc Szabó sr., and Ilona Panyiczky. T ...

, József Fodor and György Sárközi – displayed post-expressionist tendencies. Poets of this generation included

Attila József Attila József (; 11 April 1905 – 3 December 1937) was one of the most famous Hungarian poets of the 20th century. Generally not recognized during his lifetime, József was hailed during the communist era of the 1950s as Hungary's great ...

, Gyula Illyés,

Miklós Radnóti Miklós Radnóti (born ''Miklós Glatter'', surname variants: ''Radnói'', ''Radnóczi''; 5 May 1909 – 4 or 9 November 1944) was a Hungarian poet, an outstanding representative of modern Hungarian lyric poetry as well as a certified secondary ...

and József Erdélyi. Prose writer

Sándor Márai (; Archaic English name: Alexander Márai; 11 April 1900 – 21 February 1989) was a Hungarian people, Hungarian writer, poet, and journalist. Biography Márai was born on 11 April 1900 in the city of Košice, Kassa, Kingdom of Hungary, Hun ...

wrote family sagas and about social change. László Németh and

Tibor Déry Tibor Déry (18 October 1894 in Budapest – 18 August 1977 in Budapest) was a Hungarian writer and poet. He also wrote under the names Tibor Dániel and Pál Verdes. György Lukács praised Dery as being "the greatest depicter of human b ...

were also important novelists of this era. The third generation in the thirties is sometimes referred to as the "essayist" generation and included

Antal Szerb Antal Szerb (1 May 1901, Budapest – 27 January 1945, Balf, Hungary, Balf) was a noted Hungary, Hungarian scholar and writer. He is generally considered to be one of the most important Hungarian writers of the 20th century. Life and career Sz ...

, László Szabó, and Gábor Halász as well as the poets

Sándor Weöres Sándor Weöres (; 22 June 1913 – 22 January 1989) was a Hungarian poet and author. Born in Szombathely, Weöres was brought up in the nearby village of Csönge. His first poems were published when he was fourteen, in the influential jour ...

, István Vas, Jenő Dsida, Zoltán Zelk,

Gábor Devecseri Gábor (sometimes written Gabor) may refer to: * Gábor (given name) * Gabor (surname) * Gabor sisters, the three famous actresses, Eva, Magda and Zsa Zsa * Several scientific terms named after Dennis Gabor ** Gabor atom ** Gabor filter, a li ...

, György Rónay, Zoltán Jékely and

László Kálnoky László Kálnoky (Eger, September 5, 1912 – Budapest, July 30, 1985) was a Hungarian people, Hungarian poet and literary translator. He belonged to the third generation of Nyugat. His poetry was highly typical of pessimism. Biography P ...

. Being the first Hungarian language periodical to discuss philosophers such as Nietzsche and Kierkegaard, ''Nyugat'' had a significant impact upon scientists and intellectuals who became well known outside Hungary.

References

External links

*
The entire contents of the NYUGAT literary and social review.NYUGAT Centenary (1908-2008) site in English/Hungarian.NYUGAT Centenary exhibition
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nyugat 1908 establishments in Austria-Hungary 1941 disestablishments in Hungary Defunct literary magazines published in Europe Defunct magazines published in Hungary Hungarian-language magazines Literary magazines published in Hungary Magazines established in 1908 Magazines disestablished in 1941 Poetry literary magazines