During the Hungarian Enlightenment, roughly spanning from 1770 to 1820, the epistle emerged as a genre of profound significance, often forming the bulk of certain authors' oeuvres, such as those of Ányos and Barcsay. While literary histories have frequently presented the genre as largely uniform, a closer examination of contemporary texts reveals a far greater complexity and internal differentiation. This period witnessed a marked popularization of the epistle, coinciding with a broader intellectual and cultural awakening in Hungary.
A pivotal aspect of this era was the evolution of epistolary theory itself. European thought saw a shift around the mid-18th century, emphasizing the growing importance of personality and naturalness in letter writing, even advocating for an approach "without rules." This duality in reception is evident in Hungarian sources: while textbooks, exam questions, and critical reviews unanimously acknowledged and often stressed this shift, the established norms of the genre, particularly concerning the writer's personal expression, often remained in tension with these new ideals.
A significant split became apparent in the interpretation and practice of the Enlightenment epistle within Hungary. Contemporaries themselves recognized distinctions between the works of earlier generations, including Bessenyei and Orczy, and the style exemplified by Ferenc Kazinczy. This divergence, a challenge to solely poetic explanations, found a deeper understanding when viewed through the lens of media history. The "second revolution of the book," marked by the ascendancy of printing, profoundly altered the landscape of literary communication.
The epistle, traditionally a manuscript-based form, transitioned into a printed genre, a shift that cannot be overstated. This change in medium introduced new dynamics and considerations, shaping both the production and reception of these poetic letters. The very materiality of sent letters - their paper size, margins, and folding - was meticulously regulated, underscoring a societal preoccupation with maintaining social hierarchies even in written correspondence.
This period also saw the genre become an authentic vehicle for expressing a reflective and sentimental masculinity, contrasting with a perceived "naive" classical childhood. The complexities of the Hungarian epistle in the Enlightenment, therefore, extend beyond mere stylistic variations, encompassing a rich interplay of genre theory, evolving societal norms, and the transformative impact of new media on literary expression.
