Born: 6 January 1855, Slovak Republic
Died: 11 February 1939
Country most active: Slovak Republic
Also known as: Elena Maróthy
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
She was born in Krupina, but her earliest youth was spent in Lubovec, where her father was transferred as a minister. At Lucenec, later, she learned the Hungarian (Magyar) language, and at Spis, still later, she was taught the German language. At the age of twenty she married a store-keeper, Soltes, at Turcansky Svaty Martin, where she remained for fifty years, experiencing her greatest sorrows, the loss of her husband and both children. In 1881 she wrote her first story, Na dedine (In the Village), for which she received a prize in the contest conducted by Slovenske Pohlady (Slovak Views). This first success inspired her and gave her new strength to accomplish other successful works, as she had much to tell her people, who at that time, particularly, were living in a period of suppression and humiliation. Elena Marothy Soltes took an active part in the activities of the society of Slovak women called “Zivena,’’ which had been founded in 1870. This society became the advance guard of the movement of Slovakian women to educate Slovak girls, and at the same time, it had in view the spreading of the spiritual and intellectual qualities of the Slovak nation. She was active in the “Lipa” society, whose aim is to preserve the folklore and art of the people of Slovakia. In 1910 she founded the Zivena magazine, to which, as an editor, she gave an exceptionally high standard. Her literary fame was founded by the great interest created by her novel Proti Prudu (Against the Current), Her stories picture vividly Slovak life, showing its light as well as its dark spots. But her most precious work, which brought her world-wide fame, is Moje deti (My Children), This book was translated into many languages, and has placed her in the ranks of the greatest women of Europe.