John the Valiant (Hesperus Classics)

About this book

Arguably the greatest and most popular poem in the Hungarian language this first unabridged translation of Petfis spirited folk epic which recounts the adventures of a young and valiant shepherd boy has all the charm and romance of a classic fairy tale. After a reluctant farewell to the beautiful Nelly Johnny Grain o Corn embarks on a series of incredible adventures that take him across land and sea in the company of bandits giants and wicked witches. After he reunites a French princess with her father the young shepherd must decide whether to accept the kings gracious offer to ascend to the throne of France or to return to his beloved Nelly. Hungarian poet and patriot Sndor Petfi extended the range of his nations poetry beyond any predecessor creating an important new synthesis of poetic technique and realistic subject matter.