Eminescu, Mihail

Eminescu, Mihail (mēhäēl` yĕmēnĕ`sk), 1850–89, Romanian poet. Eminescu is considered the foremost Romanian poet of his century. His poems, lyrical, passionate, and revolutionary, were published in periodicals and had a profound influence on Romanian letters. He worked in a traveling company of actors, as well as acquiring a broad university education. His poetry reflected the influence of the French romantics. "Calin," a typical work, describes the glory of nature and simple peasant existence. Eminescu suffered from periodic attacks of insanity, dying shortly after his final attack.