Ferenc Tóthárpád (Ferenc Tóth Árpád,óthárpá Szombathely, 17 February 1958) is a Hungarian poet, writer, editor, journalist and andragogist, a well-known author of children's literature.
Studies
He attended high school in Szombathely and earned a school-leaving examination certificate as a mechanist (1976) and textile technician (1989). Then he went on to become an auto electrician (1978. He obtained his first degree at Berzsenyi Dániel College specializing in andragogy (2000), and later at the University of Pécs as a cultural and adult education manager (2002, with highest honours). In 2008, he earned a degree in child and youth counselling at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pécs. In 2010, he passed an administrative competitive examination.
Literary activities and publications
The Hungarian historian of literature, Endre Bakó summarized the characteristics of Tóthárpád's writing with two words: ”Care and modernity”. Ferenc Tóthárpád publishes poetry on a regular basis since the mid-1980s. He prefers classical forms. He puts great emphasis on making available contemporary literature to the Hungarian diaspora. Thus, pieces of his poetry and fiction have been featured in Óperencia Magazin (United States, Colorado), in Amerikai Magyar Napló, Panoráma'’ (New Zealand), Kispajtás, Fürkész and Cinkenapsi (Transylvania), in Jó Pajtás and Mézeskalács'’ (Serbia), and in various reviews published in Hungary (Tappancs, Nők Lapja, Breki Magazin, Mini Manó, Rejtvényiskola. A selection of his poetry written for adults has been featured in Duna-part, Hitel and Partium.
In November 2001, he was invited to Prague to take part in the reunion and discussion of the writers of children's literature of six European nations. He has received several awards in acknowledgement of his literary activities. He doesn't reckon himself among journalists, according to his own terms, he is just a man writing journals. In 2003, he became a contributor and later on a contributing editor of Kőszeg és vidéke. Then he was the founding editor-in-chief of Kőszegi Hírmondó until it ceased publication, becoming the responsible editor of Kőszeg és Vidéke, a position held for 7 years, after which he continued to be a contributor of the monthly review. He is the creator, editor of several ad hoc newspapers (Vadóc, Hétfőiek lapja, iSi-reader)
Among his collections of poetry and edited books we can come across publications related to literature, cultural theory and local history. He is a playwright as well. His play entitled Vadalma (Crabapple) was presented in 2016 by the Petőfi Theatre of Sopron. His poems and other pieces of writing are regularly performed by minstrels, choirs, folk singers and at poetry recitals, they also inspired paintings and works of art.
Family
His parents were Ferenc Tóth (1931–2010) and Ilona Csüri (1938–1998). In 1980, he married Marianna Gréczy (1960). He is the father of two children: Adrienn (1983) and Balázs (1986).
Other literary and artistic activities
In the 1980s, he took part in individual and collective exhibitions with his paintings. Occasionally, he accompanies on the guitar his poems set to music. His poems and pieces of music are featured on CDs and DVDs as well (Concordia-Barátság Choir, Katáng, Csalogató Band).
Awards and decorations
2017: Pro Communitate (with the plaquette of Endre András Tornay) 2015: Award of the literary competition Meadow-saffron 21st century (bronze plaquette of Sándor Návay) 2013: Award for service, cultural division – General assembly of Vas County 2006: László Mécs Literary Prize 2002: Honours degree – University of Pécs 1989: honourable plaque of the Council of Ministers of the Hungarian People's Republic