The Romanian poet Mihail Eminescu (1850-1889) inaugurated modern sensitiveness and expression in Romanian poetry through his achievements in content and craftsmanship.

Mihail Eminescu was born at Ipotesti in northern Moldavia on Jan. 15, 1850, into a family of country gentry. He spent his first years like a peasant child in the midst of nature and under the influence of folklore. His adolescence was agitated by conflicts with his family. He interrupted his studies several times, going on tours with theatrical companies. He made his literary debut at 16 in the Romanian review Familia (The Family), published in Budapest.

Eminescu studied philosophy in Vienna from 1869 to 1872 and in Berlin from 1872 to 1874. Returning to Romania in 1874, he held several minor jobs in lasi (custodian of the university library, inspector of schools, subeditor of an obscure newspaper). There, and after leaving lasi, he found himself under the influence of the political and esthetic literary...