Skip to main content

Primary sourceBookSeptember 1848

The Apostle manuscript

Sándor Petőfi · September 1848

Petőfi's handwritten manuscript of his poem 'Az apostol', written in 1848 after he lost an election.

This manuscript, written by Petőfi after his election defeat, shows his personal response to political disappointment.

Ask Sándor Petőfi about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Scan of a handwritten manuscript page titled 'Az apostol' with the date '(szeptember 1848)' beneath it, followed by the numeral I and several lines of cursive handwriting in Hungarian on aged paper.
Sándor Petőfi, manuscript of 'Az apostol', September 1848.

About this source

What it is

This manuscript page is the start of 'Az apostol' ('The Apostle'), a work written by Sándor Petőfi in September 1848. The page shows the title, the date, and the opening lines in his own handwriting.

Why it matters

Petőfi wrote this work in the aftermath of a political defeat, after losing an election. It reveals how he turned personal and political disappointment into literature, and offers insight into his state of mind during a turbulent year in Hungarian history.

Look closer

  • Why might a writer turn to literature after a political defeat?
  • What does the handwriting and the date on this page tell you about when and how it was written?
  • How might knowing the circumstances behind a work change how you read it?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Sándor Petőfi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Sándor Petőfi sources

Meet the AI Sándor Petőfi →
Handwritten manuscript on aged, yellowed paper titled 'Nemzeti dal' in cursive Hungarian script, with crossed-out lines and revisions, a round stamp at left and a dated stamp at lower right, and a signature at the bottom right.Book

Primary source

Nemzeti dal

Sándor Petőfi · 13 March 1848

Printed broadside of the poem Nemzeti dal (National Song) by Sándor Petőfi, in Hungarian, two columns of verse with a handwritten dedication note in cursive at the bottom and the signature Petőfi Sándor.Document

Primary source

Nemzetidal broadside

Sándor Petőfi · 15 March 1848

Front cover of the first edition of János Vitéz by Sándor Petőfi. Title reads 'JÁNOS VITÉZ, Irta PETŐFI SÁNDOR, Ára 40 kr. p.p.' with a drawing of a hussar on a rearing white horse, with a village and river in the background. Printer's line at bottom: 'Nyomt. Gumm Vnél, Pesten'.Book

Primary source

János vitéz

Sándor Petőfi · 1845 (written 1844)

Black-and-white portrait of a young man with dark, swept-back hair, dark jacket, and light-colored cravat, looking at the viewer with a serious expression. He holds a dark object at lower left. The image is grainy and scratched.Photograph

Primary source

Sándor Petőfi

Gábor Egressy · 1844

Oil painting of a young man with a dark pompadour hairstyle and a thick curled mustache, wearing a dark jacket, white collar and red cravat, against a warm golden-brown background. Signature and date in red at lower right.Painting

Primary source

Portrait of Sándor Petőfi

Orlai Petrich Soma

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Sándor Petőfi now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions