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George TopyrchanuRomanian poet, prose writer, memoirist and publicist, corresponding member of the Romanian Academy since 1936.
Date of Birth: 21.03.1886
Country:  Romania |
Content:
- Biography of George Topirceanu
- Early Career
- Later Career
- George Topirceanu passed away from liver cancer in Iași in 1937.
Biography of George Topirceanu
George Topirceanu was a Romanian poet, novelist, memoirist, and publicist. He was born on March 21, 1886, in the family of a cobbler, George, and a weaver, Paraschiva Topirceanu, in the city of Sibiu. He attended primary school from 1893 to 1895 in Bucharest and Suiuca, where his parents lived for a while. From 1898 to 1906, he studied at the Matei Basarab and St. Sava High School.
Early Career
Topirceanu made his creative debut in 1904 in the humor magazine "Belgia Orientului" (Belgium of the East). During this time, he also collaborated with other magazines such as "Duminica" (Sunday), "Revista noastră" (Our Magazine), and "Revista ilustrată" (Illustrated Magazine). In 1906, he enrolled in the Faculty of Law but left without completing his studies. He worked as a writer for magazines such as "Sămănătorul," "Neamul românesc literar" (Romanian Literary Language), and "Ramuri" (Branches), after which he became close with the circle of writers in the magazine "Viața românească" (Romanian Life), starting with the publication of his parody "Răspunsul micilor funcționari" (The Answer of the Small Officials).
Later Career
After becoming acquainted with Garabet Ibrăileanu (with whom Topirceanu maintained an interesting correspondence), George moved to Iași, becoming a member of the editorial board of "Viața românească." He also co-published the magazine "Teatrul" (Theater) with Mihail Sevastos from 1912 to 1913. During World War I, Topirceanu served in the army and participated in the Bulgarian campaign. He was captured in the early days in Tutrakan and remained in captivity until 1918. The experience of these two years in captivity was reflected in his prose.
During this time, Topirceanu published his first two collections, "Balade vesele" (Merry Ballads) and "Parodii originale" (Original Parodies) in 1916. Upon returning to Iași, he co-edited the magazine "Însemnări literare" (Literary Notes), until the revival of "Viața românească" in 1920. His subsequent books, such as "Balade vesele și triste" (Merry and Sad Ballads), "Migdale amare" (Bitter Almonds), and others, gained enormous success among readers and the press, especially for his poetry, for which he received the National Prize in 1926.
In 1934, Topirceanu began publishing the satirical novel "Chestii și înțelegătorii" (Miracles of Saint Syssoi) in the magazine "Revista fundațiilor regale," although the novel was never completed. In 1936, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy. Topirceanu was married to schoolteacher Victoria Iuga, and they had a son named George, named after his grandfather. The marriage, initially based on love, soon became unhappy due to George's dissolute lifestyle and bouts of alcoholism. Unable to control himself, Topirceanu suffered, and this part of his life also found its reflection in his work.
