The Slovak writer, poet, prosaic and translator to and from Russian, Janko Jesenský, who in his civil life was also a solicitor and public officer, was born to a nationally oriented family of landowners. After successfully completing the Evangelical lyceum in Kežmarok, he attended the Academy of Law in Prešov. His doctoral studies were completed at the university in Cluj. As a trainee solicitor, he worked for several solicitors with nationalist interests. In 1906, he opened his own office in Bánovce nad Bebravou.  During his studies he lived as a bohemian; he even defended his honour by duelling with sabres. He...