Štefan Krcméry
Encyclopedia
Štefan Krčméry (26 December 1892 - 17 February 1955) was a Slovak
poet
, literary critic, historian
, journalist
, translator, and administrator of Matica slovenská
. He was born in Mošovce
(then Mosóc) and died in Pezinok
.
, the son of a member of the Štúr
group, August Horislav Krčméry. He went to primary school in Jasenová
(then Alsójeszenő), secondary school
in Banská Bystrica
(then Besztercebánya), and attended a Lutheran lyceum
( from 1907 to 1911) in Bratislava
, where he also studied Lutheran theology
(1911–1915).
For some time he worked as chaplain
in Krajné
(then Krajna) and in Bratislava
(then Pozsony), but then left preaching and started working as a literary critic, journalist, poet, historian, theoretician, and organizer of Slovak cultural and awareness activities. From 1918 to 1919 Krčméry was the editor of Národné noviny, worked as the editor-in-chief of Slovenské pohľady, and acted as secretary of the reinstated Matica slovenská
. From 1920 to 1921 Krčméry undertook a studying trip to Paris
together with his wifr Hela. Upon his return, he once again worked as the secretary of Matica slovenská
and was the editor of renewed Slovenské pohľady (1922–1932), Knižnica Slovenských pohľadov, and temporarily also Slovenský ochotník, Naše divadlo, Včielka and other magazines. In 1930 he left for 3 months to Prague
, where he increased his qualification at the Charles University
and received the PhDr. degree.
In the fall of 1931 he propagated symptoms of mental illness
, and next year fell seriously ill. In the late 1932 Krčméry stopped editing Slovenské pohľady and in 1933 resigned from the post of secretary of Matica slovenská
. However, he did not stop his literary
work. He was also a member of several cultural and societal institutions (Matica hrvatska
, Provençal Félibrige
, Matica srpska
etc.). He moved several times, but was undergoing treatment in Pezinok
from 1949 until his death. He was buried in Bratislava
, but his remains were later transferred to the National Cemetery in Martin
.
he also used elements of Symbolism; his inspiration were Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav
a the Štúr group
, as well as Europe
an romantic poets. His most important theoretical work is the two-volume history
of Slovak
literature
: 150 Years of Slovak Literature, where he mentions more and less significant personalities of the 18th and 19th century.
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, literary critic, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, translator, and administrator of Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The Matica slovenská Mother) is Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation. It is based in the city of Martin...
. He was born in Mošovce
Mošovce
Mošovce is one of the largest villages in the historical region of Turiec, currently in the Turčianske Teplice District in the Žilina Region of northern Slovakia.-History:Many preserved historical buildings are the evidence of the 770 years of its existence...
(then Mosóc) and died in Pezinok
Pezinok
Pezinok is a city in southwestern Slovakia. It is roughly northeast of Bratislava and has a population of 21,334 .Pezinok lies near the Little Carpathians and thrives mainly on viticulture and agriculture, as well as on brick making and ceramic production.-History:From the second half of the 10th...
.
Life
Krčméry was born in the family of a Lutheran preacherPreacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, the son of a member of the Štúr
Ludovít Štúr
Ľudovít Štúr , known in his era as Ludevít Velislav Štúr, was the leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century, the author of the Slovak language standard eventually leading to the contemporary Slovak literary language...
group, August Horislav Krčméry. He went to primary school in Jasenová
Jasenová
Jasenová is a village and municipality in Dolný Kubín District in the Zilina Region of northern Slovakia.It has population of 390 people.Its name comes from Slovak word Jaseň, which is a kind of tree often found in the area. There is a church build in 1836, an old elementary school from the 19th...
(then Alsójeszenő), secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 81,281 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia...
(then Besztercebánya), and attended a Lutheran lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
( from 1907 to 1911) in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, where he also studied Lutheran theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
(1911–1915).
For some time he worked as chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in Krajné
Krajné
Krajné is a village and municipality in Myjava District in the Trenčín Region of north-western Slovakia.-Geography:The municipality lies at an altitude of 250 metres and covers an area of 26.982 km². It has a population of about 1664 people....
(then Krajna) and in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(then Pozsony), but then left preaching and started working as a literary critic, journalist, poet, historian, theoretician, and organizer of Slovak cultural and awareness activities. From 1918 to 1919 Krčméry was the editor of Národné noviny, worked as the editor-in-chief of Slovenské pohľady, and acted as secretary of the reinstated Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The Matica slovenská Mother) is Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation. It is based in the city of Martin...
. From 1920 to 1921 Krčméry undertook a studying trip to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
together with his wifr Hela. Upon his return, he once again worked as the secretary of Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The Matica slovenská Mother) is Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation. It is based in the city of Martin...
and was the editor of renewed Slovenské pohľady (1922–1932), Knižnica Slovenských pohľadov, and temporarily also Slovenský ochotník, Naše divadlo, Včielka and other magazines. In 1930 he left for 3 months to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he increased his qualification at the Charles University
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
and received the PhDr. degree.
In the fall of 1931 he propagated symptoms of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
, and next year fell seriously ill. In the late 1932 Krčméry stopped editing Slovenské pohľady and in 1933 resigned from the post of secretary of Matica slovenská
Matica slovenská
The Matica slovenská Mother) is Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation. It is based in the city of Martin...
. However, he did not stop his literary
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
work. He was also a member of several cultural and societal institutions (Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska
Matica hrvatska is one of the oldest Croatian cultural institutions, dating back to 1842. The name is somewhat idiosyncratic, best translated as "The Croatian Centre" . It is the largest publisher of Croatian language books...
, Provençal Félibrige
Félibrige
The Félibrige is a literary and cultural association founded by Frédéric Mistral and other Provençal writers to defend and promote Occitan language and literature...
, Matica srpska
Matica srpska
The Matica srpska is the oldest cultural-scientific institution of Serbia. Matica srpska was founded in 1826 in Budapest and moved to Novi Sad in 1864....
etc.). He moved several times, but was undergoing treatment in Pezinok
Pezinok
Pezinok is a city in southwestern Slovakia. It is roughly northeast of Bratislava and has a population of 21,334 .Pezinok lies near the Little Carpathians and thrives mainly on viticulture and agriculture, as well as on brick making and ceramic production.-History:From the second half of the 10th...
from 1949 until his death. He was buried in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, but his remains were later transferred to the National Cemetery in Martin
National Cemetery in Martin
The National Cemetery in Martin, Slovakia is the final resting place of many important personalities of Slovak history. The list includes writers, poets, national activists, pedagogues, etc....
.
Works
Krčméry started publishing in 1913, and contributed to several magazines (Slovenské pohľady, Dennica, Živena, Národné noviny, Mladé Slovensko e.a.). In addition to critical realismCritical realism
In the philosophy of perception, critical realism is the theory that some of our sense-data can and do accurately represent external objects, properties, and events, while other of our sense-data do not accurately represent any external objects, properties, and events...
he also used elements of Symbolism; his inspiration were Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav
Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav
Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav (* February 2, 1849 in Vyšný Kubín (Felsőkubin), Austrian Empire, Kingdom of Hungary, † November 8, 1921 in Dolný Kubín, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), was a Slovak poet, dramatist, translator and for a short time member...
a the Štúr group
Ludovít Štúr
Ľudovít Štúr , known in his era as Ludevít Velislav Štúr, was the leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century, the author of the Slovak language standard eventually leading to the contemporary Slovak literary language...
, as well as Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an romantic poets. His most important theoretical work is the two-volume history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
: 150 Years of Slovak Literature, where he mentions more and less significant personalities of the 18th and 19th century.
Poetry
- 1920 - Keď sa sloboda rodila, celebrates the creation of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
- 1929 – Herbárium
- 1930 - Piesne a balady
- 1932 – Slovo čisté
- 1944 – Pozdrav odmlčaného básnika
Prose
- 1932 – Oslobodenie
- 1957 – Zimná legenda
- 1972 – Ty a Ja, dedicated to his future wife, Hela Karlovská
Literary science
- 1920 – Prehľad dejín slovenskej literatúry a vzdelanosti
- 1927 – Moyses a Kuzmány
- 1928 – Ľudia a knihy
- 1936 – Zo slovenskej kymnológie
- 1943 – Stopäťdesiat rokov slovenskej literatúry
- 1976 – Dejiny literatúry slovenskej
Other works
- 1925 – Anthológia szlovák kőltőkből, anthologyAnthologyAn anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of SlovakSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
poetryPoetryPoetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning... - 1925 – Salome, translation of Oscar WildeOscar WildeOscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
's rhymeRhymeA rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
d dramaDramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a... - 1944 – Z cudzích sadov, translation of EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an poetry - 1975 – Estetické reflexie
Articles, paragraphs, and reflections
- 1922 – Slovensko a jeho život literárny
- 1924 – Literárne snahy slovenské
- 1926 – O možnostiach rozvoja slovenskej literatúry
- 1931 – Prozódia štúrovských básnikov
- 1932 – Melódia vety a prízvuk v slovenčine
- 1935 – Estetika krás prírodných
Anthologies
- 1975 – Estetické reflexie
- 1977 – Román bez konca