Andrej Sládkovič

Andrej Sládkovič
Born30 March 1820
Died20 April 1872 (aged 52)
Other namesborn as Andrej Braxatoris

Andrej Sládkovič (born as Andrej Braxatoris, pseudonyms Andrej Braxatoris-Sládkovič, Andrej Sládkovič, Ondřej Krasislav Sládkovič; 31 March 1820 – 20 April 1872) was a Slovak poet, critic, publicist, translator and Lutheran priest.

Life

Andrej Sládkovič was born into a family of teachers in Krupina. His school years started in his home town (1826–30). He later attended a gymnasium in Krupina and at the Lutheran lyceums in Banská Štiavnica and Bratislava. He continued his studies in theology at the University of Halle, Germany (1843–44). After he became a pastor, he served in Hrochoť from 1847 to 1856, and from then until his death in Radvaň nad Hronom. He was a member of the Ľudovít Štúr's group and was also one of the founders of the Matica slovenská.

Works

  • Sôvety (1843–44)
  • Marína (1846, his most significant poem, also translated into Hungarian, German, Polish and French)
  • Zaspievam pieseň o slobodnej vlasti (1848)
  • Nehaňte ľud môj (1848)
  • Detvan (1853, an opera was made in 1928)
  • Milica (1858)
  • Svätomartiniáda (1861)
  • Pamiatka na deň 4. augusta (1863, remembers establishment of the Matica slovenská)
  • Hojže, Bože, jak to bolí, keď sa junač roztratí (1863)
  • Lipa cyrilo-metodejská (1864)
  • Gróf Mikuláš Šubić Zrínsky na Sihoti (1866)

Sládkovič also translated works from German (Goethe), Russian (Pushkin) and French (Voltaire, Jean Racine).