Szabolcs Várady (pronounced: Sábbolch Wáradi) was born in Budapest on 27 January 1943. He studied Hungarian at the University of Budapest and then worked as an editor at the publishing firm Európa, where he is still responsible for Anglo-Saxon literature. Since 1989, he has also been on the editing staff of the literary journal Holmi.

In 1981, he published the collection Ha már itt vagy (Now that you’re here) at the publishing firm Kozmosz and in 1987 Hátha nem úgy van (Perhaps it isn’t like that) at Magvető. On the occasion of his 60th birthday, Európa published his collected works (poems, translations, essays, occasional poems and humorous poems) under the title A rejtett kijárat (The Hidden Exit).

Among other awards, he has received the Graves prize (1981), Attila József prize (1982), Soros-oeuvre prize (1992) and the Palládium prize (2004). Popular with the Hungarian public are Várady’s humorous verses, in which he plays with language in virtuoso fashion, as well as his song lyrics. He has also translated a great deal of English-language literature – poetry, prose and drama – into Hungarian.