Mozes Kahana Moldavian and Hungarian writer, poet, publicist, lexicographer Date of Birth: 26.11.1897 Country: Hungary

1. Mozes Kahana: A Multifaceted Literary Genius
2. Early Life and Literary Beginnings
3. Underground Activism and Exile
4. Escape and Literary Contributions in Moldova
5. Return to Hungary and Literary Success
6. Return to Romania and Further Writing
7. Literary Controversies and Later Life
8. Return to Hungary and Literary Legacy
9. Suicide and Posthumous Legacy

Mozes Kahana: A Multifaceted Literary Genius

Mozes Kahana (1897-1974) was a prolific Romanian, Hungarian, and Moldovan writer, poet, publicist, and lexicographer who also played an active role in the underground communist movement. His works spanned multiple genres and languages, leaving an enduring legacy in both Hungarian and Moldovan literature.

Early Life and Literary Beginnings

Born in 1897 in Gyergyóbékás, Transylvania (now Romania), Kahana began writing poetry at a young age. His first poems appeared in the magazine "Mában" under the pseudonym Joel Béla. In 1918, following the establishment of the Hungarian People's Republic, he moved to Budapest, where he published under the pen name Gyergyai Zoltán.

Underground Activism and Exile

In 1919, with the collapse of the Hungarian Republic, Kahana fled to Vienna. He joined the Communist Party of Romania and became involved in underground activities. In 1923, under the pseudonym Térítő Pál, he published the collection "A mozgalom" (The Movement), which led to his arrest and imprisonment.

Escape and Literary Contributions in Moldova

In 1926, Kahana escaped from jail and sought refuge in the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (MASSR). He became a prominent figure in Moldovan literary circles and helped establish the Moldovan Writers' Union, serving as its first chairman. In the late 1920s, he was sent to Berlin and Paris by the Comintern to coordinate underground communist work.

Return to Hungary and Literary Success

In the 1930s, Kahana returned to Hungary and shifted his focus to literary criticism and writing. He became a regular contributor to the influential magazine "Korunk" and published several critically acclaimed novels under the pseudonym Kőves Miklós. Some of his most notable works from this period include "Tarackos" (1930), "A Kárpátok alatt" (Under the Carpathians, 1931), and "Taktika" (1933).

Return to Romania and Further Writing

In 1937, Kahana returned to Romania, settling in Bessarabia. He continued to write for "Korunk" and became a member of the Writers' Union of the Moldavian SSR in 1940. During World War II, he was evacuated to Central Asia and later returned to Moldova. He compiled a Hungarian-Russian dictionary (1946) and published his first Moldovan novel, "Costea Gângăş" (1954), which later became part of his trilogy "Justice."

Literary Controversies and Later Life

Kahana's novel "Pavel Braghar" (1956) drew criticism from the Moldovan Writers' Union, which accused him of revisionism. This led to his virtual exclusion from the literary scene in Moldova. In 1959, he moved to Moscow, where he continued to write and translate Hungarian literature into Russian.

Return to Hungary and Literary Legacy

In 1964, Kahana returned to Hungary and was hailed as a master of contemporary Hungarian literature. His early novels were reissued, and he published new works, including the autobiographical trilogy "Földi, föld alatt" (On Earth, Under the Earth, 1967-1973).

Suicide and Posthumous Legacy

On April 11, 1974, at the height of his fame, Mozes Kahana committed suicide by jumping from a hospital window in Budapest. His death shocked the Hungarian literary world. Posthumously, his selected works were published in Hungary and Romania, ensuring his lasting legacy as one of the most significant Hungarian and Moldovan writers of the 20th century.