George Silviu facts for kids
George Silviu (whose real name was Silvius Goliger) was a talented Romanian writer. He was a poet, wrote plays, and translated books. He was also a lawyer. He lived from 1901 to 1971.
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Early Life and Education
George Silviu was born in Focșani, Romania, in 1901. His family was Jewish. His father, Iancu Goliger, was an architect. George went to Unirea High School in his hometown. After that, he studied law at the University of Bucharest and finished in 1922. In 1923, he also became a second lieutenant in the Romanian Land Forces.
Career and Family
George Silviu joined the Socialist Party of Romania in 1920. He worked as an editor for several left-wing newspapers like Adevărul and Dimineața. He also wrote for many magazines, including Gândirea.
In 1930, he married Otilia Ghibu, who was also a writer and journalist. Later, in 1938, he married Renée Șaraga. She was famous for starting Romania's first puppet theater for puppies!
Working as a Lawyer
George Silviu started working as a lawyer in 1924. From 1927 to 1931, he also worked for Romania at the League of Nations. This was an important international group that tried to keep peace.
However, in 1939, he was stopped from working as a lawyer. This happened because of unfair rules against Jewish people at that time. He was even sent to do military service in different towns. In June 1940, he was let go from the military, again because he was Jewish. He was then forced to do difficult jobs, like cleaning snow and farming.
Later Years and Challenges
After the King Michael Coup in 1944, when things changed in Romania, George Silviu could go back to being a lawyer. He even earned a special degree in law.
From 1945, he held important government jobs. But he resigned in 1948, shortly after a new type of government, called a Communist regime, took power.
Difficult Times
From 1949 to 1953, George Silviu was not allowed to publish his writings under his own name. In March 1953, he was held in a jail for political prisoners in Bucharest. He was released in July 1954 without any explanation.
Even during these tough years, he kept writing. He published two more books and worked as an insurance clerk.
Moving to Paris
In July 1961, George Silviu moved to Paris with his wife and two daughters. He continued to write poetry and worked on a novel about his time in jail. He passed away in 1971 and is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
His Literary Works
George Silviu started his writing career in 1927 with a children's play called Motanul încălțat ("Puss in Boots"). He wrote it with Adrian Maniu.
He wrote many books for children, sometimes using the pen name Moș Grigore Sfătosu. These included:
- Versified stories like Verde Împărat și Zmeii (1927)
- Poems such as Jucării (1932) and Flori și fluturi (1934)
- Plays like Ciufulici (1927), Brumărel (1945), and Salba fermecată (1958)
He also wrote poetry for adults, including Paisie psaltul spune… (1934) and Înfrângeri, versuri inactuale (1934). He wrote fables, which are stories with a moral, in Întâmplări cu tâlc (1956).
Besides his own works, George Silviu translated books by other famous writers like Paul Bourget, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Georges Duhamel.
