In the process of determining the place and importance of György Verestói (1698–1765; orator and reformed bishop of Transylvania) this study aims to formulate certainties by using the results of research history. The figure of the orator – despite his contemporary popularity – has nowadays faded. Most encyclopaedias contain mistaken information about Verestói and in the public consciousness of literary history there are lots of controversial facts about the topic. Moreover, his works are not separated; most databases, libraries merge his oeuvre with the younger Verestói’s one. The most important result of this research is that – having found the original Latin manuscript of the author’s autobiography [1] – it can reassuringly clear up the questions related to the biography. [2]
[1] Genealogia et vita Georgii Verestói. The Verestói-manuscript can be found in the manuscript archives of the Reformed College’s library in Cluj; the library is presently managed by the Academic Library of Cluj-Napoca. Its identifier: MS R 1436.
[2] This study was written during the programme of POSDRU Invest in people – project co-financed by the European Social Fund through the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007–2013.
