HERCZEG, FERENCZ (1863– ), Hungarian novelist and dramatist, was born at Versecz (Virlet) on Sept. 22, 1863, of a family of German extraction. He became honorary president of the Petofi Society and a member of the Hungarian Academy. He was several times elected a deputy and in his review, Magyar Figyelo, supported Count Tisza. He was a master of the psycho logical novel. Among the most notable of his historical novels are Pogdnyok (The Pagans) (1902) and A het svdb (The Seven Swabians), while his tragedy Byzance (1912) is considered a mas terpiece. His novels and plays have been translated into nearly every European language.