Pavol Orzsagh Hviezdoslav: Biography

Born: 02/02/1849 Vysny Kubin, Dolny Kubin region
Died: 08/11/1921 Dolny Kubin

Hviezdoslav, whose real name was Pavol Orszagh, was born in Dolny Kubin and became one of the most important Slovak poets.
Hviezdoslav studied in Miskovec (Hungry), in Kezmarok and law in Presov. As a student he started to first write his works in Hungarian, later in German, but after advice from his teacher Adolf Medzihradsky, he changed to writing in the Slovak language.
Young Hviezdoslav was mostly influenced by the works of A. Sladkovic, J. Kollar and J. Holly, which awoke in him a strong national feeling and since then he wrote his works only in Slovak. Hviezdoslav published his first poems when he was 19, and from the year 1875 started to use the name Hviezdoslav.
Hviezdoslav was also an important translator and translated works from many famous writers such as Shakespeare (Hamlet), Schiller, Puskin (Boris Godunov), Mickiewicz, Goethe, Petofy, Aranya and others.
The life and work of Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav is presented in the literary part of the Orava Museum in Dolny Kubin.