A lawyer by profession, Hviezdoslav - born Pavol Országh (1849-1921) was a poet, dramatist and translator.

He began writing poetry - initially in Hungarian - while still attending grammar school (in Miškovec and Kežmarok). an awakened national pride brought a resolution to work in Slovak, but the inclination towards realism in his early poetry met with the aversion of the older generation. among the most important of his mature lyric cycles are Growth Rings I, II and III, Walks through Spring, Walks through Summer, 'Stesky' and, above all, the anti war Bloody Sonnets. In their intimacy and reflection Hviezdoslav's works address universal human concerns.

The poet's epic compositions, including The Gamekeeper's wife, Ežo Vlkolinský, and Gábor Vlkolinský, derive from his native Orava and from biblical themes, through which he commented allegorically on the situation of the Slovak nation. The Bible also inspired his verse drama 'Herodes and Herodias', a pillar of our classic dramatic repertory.

Hviezdoslav was also versatile translator who endeavored in this occupation to refine and enrich the Slovak language and to advance its potential as medium of poetic expression.

Jelena Paštéková