This monograph on the life and work of Johannes Nádasi (1614-1679) begins with a historical outline of the literary genre he represented and also presents a study of the history of the impact of his work. Nádasi was a prolific representative of moral meditative literature and was widely read throughout Europe in the 17th century. A comparative examination of the texts (most of them in Latin) highlights the questions posed by the relations between New Latin and national literature, 'religious' and 'secular' culture, literature and ideology. The volume closes with a bibliography of the works discussed and the editions they have been through.