Dániel Varró
poet, literary translator
Dániel Varró is one of the most prominent figures of the young generation of Hungarian poets, admired by critics and readers alike for his wide range of work and unique humor. A master of both structure and parody, he has displayed his talent to the Hungarian audience in numerous genres, including in the form of poetry, children’s poems, plays, and literary translations. His work has brought an inimitable style and a sense of freshness and modernity to contemporary Hungarian literature.
Dániel Varró was born in Budapest, on 11 September 1977. He wrote his first poems at the age of 12. He studied Hungarian and English literature at the Eötvös Loránd University.
His poems and translations have been published in various literary journals ever since his adolescence. His first published book was Mug of Azure in 1999, followed in 2003 by a fairy tale novel in verse titled Beyond the Smudgy Mountain. He released his next book in 2007 under the title Heart-Dessert. The birth of his child inspired his fourth poetry collection titled He Whose Foot is Size Six, and its sequel, He Who Has His Tooth Out in 2011. He turned to adult audiences again with his next poetry collection titled Where Did What Go? in 2016. In the spring of 2018, he published Being Silly Properly, a diary of fatherhood; the entries had been previously released every month for seven years in the Hungarian women’s magazine Nők Lapja. The autumn of the same year marked the publication of The Thirsty Troll, a collection of fairy tale poetry inspired by Scandinavian and Celtic sources. In 2019, he published Thursday, the Little Devil, a fairy tale in verse written for preschoolers. 2020 saw the publication of The Nutcracker, a piece based on the traditional Christmas story. 2023 marked the 20th anniversary of Beyond the Smudgy Mountain, and in this year Dániel Varró delighted the readers with a sequel; Beyond the Smudgy Mountain 2.
Theatergoers also know his name as he has worked with many theatres in Hungary both as a playwright and translator. Dániel Varró has been a member of the Attila József Circle since 1999, of the Belletrist Association since 2005, and of the National Association of Hungarian Artists since 2008.
Awards
- Knight's Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Rebuplic, 2020
- Literary Translator of the Year, 2019
- Merítés – book of the year prize of the jury and of the public, 2017
- Book convention of Győr – writer’s prize, 2011
- Holmi Literary Translation competition – shared 1st prize, 2010
- Award of critics – best Hungarian drama, 2008/2009
- Cross of Merit of the Hungarian Republic – gold, 2007
- Attila József Award, 2005
- Gundel Award, 2004
- IBBY Award for the Book of the Year for Children, 2004
- Petőfi Award, 2003
- Bárka Award, 2003
- Zsigmond Móricz Grant, 2002
- National Theatre Festival Special Award (for the translation of Knives in Hens), 2000
- New Hungarian Radio Play Award, 2000
- Sándor Bródy Special Award, 1999