Zsigmond Kemény

Baron Zsigmond Kemény (June 12, 1814 – December 22, 1875) was a Hungarian author.

Kemény was born in Alvinc, Transylvania to a distinguished noble family, but family feuds left him with little personal wealth. His early schooling in Nagyenyed gave him knowledge of English law, French law and German law, politics and culture. In 1837 he studied jurisprudence at Marosvásárhely (present-day Târgu-Mureş, Romania), but soon devoted himself entirely to journalism and literature. His first unfinished work, "On the Causes of the Disaster of Mohács" (1840), attracted much attention. In the same year he studied natural history and anatomy at Vienna University. In 1841, along with Lajos Kovács, he edited the Transylvanian newspaper "Erdélyi Híradó". He also took an active part in provincial politics and warmly supported the principles of Count István Széchenyi. In 1846 he moved to Pest, where his pamphlet, "Korteskedés és ellenszerei" ("Partisanship and its Antidote"), had already made him famous. In Pest he discovered others who shared his liberalism and desire for reformation, and for a time was on the staff of the "Pesti Hirlap". The same year he brought out his first great novel, "Gyulai Pál". His life-long interest in politics led to him becoming an outspoken public speaker, and in 1848 Kemény was elected a member of the revolutionary diet, promoting the idea of an independent Hungary. After a brief exile he accepted the amnesty and returned to Hungary. In 1857 he wrote his most famous novel: "Özvegy és leánya" ("The widow and her daughter").

Kemény's enthusiasm for Hungarian independence had waned, believing that the European balance of power would never accept an independent Hungary, and advocated a policy of reconciliation with Austria. After the failure of Kossuth's radical nationalist policies, Kemény claimed that these ideas did not best serve the Hungarian people. He proposed compromise with Austria and moderation in politics, in his two pamphlets, "Forradalom után" ("After the Revolution") and "Még egy szó a forradalom után" ("One word more after the Revolution"). This tactic only succeeded in making him unpopular.

He subsequently edited the newspaper "Pesti Napló", which became virtually Deak's political organ. In this paper Kemény advocated "passive resistance". He also published several political essays (e.g. "The Two Wesselényis", and "István Széchenyi"). During the 1860s Kemény took an active part in the political movement of Deák, whose right hand he continued to be, and popularized the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 which he had done so much to bring about, however, later he denounced it. He was elected to the diet of 1867 for one of the divisions of Pest, but took no part in the debates. The last years of his life were passed in complete seclusion in Transylvania.

His political work should not overshadow his novels, however, which were remarkable for their lively dialogue, as well as their Pessimism outlook. His writing differed from his contemporaries in that his protagonists' fate was not directly linked to their moral standards. That is - the virtuous weren't unconditionally rewarded, and sometimes the wicked went unpunished. His characters were thwarted by everyday frustrations and minor carelessness; they are not struck by lightning, they are more likely to be consumed by a fire caused by a carelessly dropped match. The fine historical novel "A rajongók" ("The Fanatics") (Pest, 1858-1859) is generally regarded as his best.

See L. Nogrady, "Baron Sigismund Kemény's Life and Writings" (Budapest, 1902); G. Beksics, "Sigismund Kemény, the Revolution and the Composition" (Budapest, 1888).

References

*1911