KISFALUDY, kish' f Alezander (Sandor), Hungarian poet and dramatist: b.
Sumeg, Zala County, 27 Sept. 1772; d. in his native town, 28 Oct. 1844. He was an elder brother of Karoly Kisfaludy (q.v.) and with him exercised a notable influence upon Hun garian literature and language. Coming of a good family he received an excellent education at Raab and Pressburg; and on graduation en tered the Austrian army where he proved a very active and efficient soldier during several campaigns, in one of which he was made pris oner and remained in captivity for some time in Provence. This captivity brought him into contact with Western literature and gave him a new view of literary life. On his return to Hungary he at once began devoting all his at tention to literature; and he soon met with flattering success. As the elder brother, to him fell the paternal estate, which he continued to make his home and where he led the life of a country gentleman. His literary genius lay not, like that of his brother, in drama and com edy, but in lyrical poetry. Curiously enough he was the same age (29) as his brother when he appeared before the public with a serious literary effort, which in his case was
was met with general approbation, and he awoke one morning to find that he had literally become famous over night. His poem was read and recited everywhere and by everyone in mid dle and upper class society in Hungary. This was followed in 1807 by a continuation of the poem now generally known as the second part of (Himfy's Loves,' which was also well re ceived by the public. This was followed, in the same year, by