The object of the month – Candle from the funeral of Mór Jókai
The writer Mór Jókai was born on 18 February 1825 in Komárom. After high school, he began to study law in Kecskemét, and in 1846 he qualified as a lawyer. However, he soon left his profession and became a journalist. He was an active participant in the events of 15 March 1848 and worked as a journalist and editor during the War of Independence and after its fall.
Jókai wrote his first novel in 1846. However, his writing career really took off after the fall of the War of Independence in the 1850s. His novels were published in succession and he became very popular. He was elected a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1858, then a full member in 1861. In 1894, on the occasion of his half-century jubilee as a writer, his works were published in a national edition, celebrations were held in schools, his plays were performed in theatres and a ball was held in his honour. Our university also took part in the national celebrations, and on 18 February 1894, the writer was awarded an honorary doctorate and received a delegation from the university in his apartment. Aladár Schnierer, Rector, Lajos Láng, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Zsolt Beöthy, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, accompanied by seven students, welcomed Mór Jókai with toasts, a handshake and an honorary degree. His death in 1904 shocked the whole country, and on 9 May thousands of people escorted him from the foyer of the National Museum to his final resting place in the Kerepesi cemetery. The funeral was attended by the director and staff of the University Library, who honoured the memory of the prince of letters with a wreath bearing the inscription „Keepers of your immortal works – the University Library of Budapest”. After the funeral, Zoltán Ferenczi, Library Director, was presented with a candle from the funeral, which is still kept in the University History Collection.
The wax candle, 60 cm long and in a black paper box, is bound with black ribbon. Next to the candle is an obituary addressed to Zoltán Ferenczi, Director of the Library, on the death of Mór Jókai.