Mihály Fazekas

Sculpture of Fazekas (sitting) and Sámuel Diószegi at the University of Debrecen

Mihály Fazekas (Debrecen, 1766 January 6 – Debrecen, 1828 February 23) was a Hungarian writer from Debrecen. He was an army private for seven years before being commissioned as a Hussar officer. As a hobby, Fazekas studied the natural sciences (botany) and wrote poetry. His poetry expressed his enlightened disgust with warfare and violence and brought to light the social injustices of his society.

His epic poem Lúdas Matyi (Mattie the Goose-boy), written in 1804, was based on a folk-tale of unexact origins.

In the story, Matyi, the main character tries to sell his geese at the market, but runs into trouble with the servants of the local squire. The plot revolves around Matyi's scheme to get back at the squire.

The popularity of this story is because Matyi is the first commonfolk hero in Hungarian literature who is victorious over his "social superior".

His poem was made into a film in 1949. It was directed by Kálmán Nádasdy and featured the actors Imre Soós and Éva Ruttkai.

A memorial plaque to Fazekas still exists on the wall of the house at No. 58 Piac Street, where the author once lived.

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