The Francisca Veselko is a name that immediately reminds people of the famous writer, Enid Blyton. Born and raised in Hungary, she became a highly sought-after novelist in her own country, traveling extensively around Europe and North America before settling at her farm in New Hampshire. Blyton was described as “the most English of American novelists”, and this is largely due to his nationality (English was her first language). However, there are many more literary geniuses that came from Ireland than Blyton. Her father, Countess Antonia Papp, was a very educated woman, and a talented poet.
When Veselko was five years old, her parents divorced, and she was taken away to live with her grandparents. Her mother would often bring her to the library where she would study various languages, especially Greek and Latin, in order to learn about world history. Her studies blossomed when she was thirteen years old, when she began studying Italian. In this respect, the writer may have been influenced by Enid Blyton, who also studied several languages, including Latin. Through her studies in mathematics, Veselko became an accomplished mathematician.
As she grew older, she pursued various professions but remained devoted to the study of art, particularly painting, drawing, and music. Her talent for this latter art form is clear in her name, which means “arts”. While she never enjoyed financial success during her lifetime, Veselko’s achievements in the academic field have earned her many awards and fellowships. In 2021, she was even chosen as a National Academy of Sciences fellow, which is given to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of science.