The liberal hero, Balint, is at odds with the politics of his time; he lyrically describes the idyllic pre-industrial world of Hungarian Transylvania, later to fall into the hands of first the Nazis and then the Communists, his love for Adrienne, married to an unpleasant and dangerous lunatic, and a Proustian society helplessly bent on its own destruction. This is a novel hard to put down, a masterpiece of twentieth-century literature that deserves to be much more widely known. First published in English in the early 1990s by a small publisher, and a huge word-of-mouth success, this is the first edition in hardback, and in two rather than three volumes.

Why You Should Read?

• Explores the complexities of political and social upheaval through a compelling narrative.
• Offers a unique perspective on the fall of the Hungarian aristocracy and the transition into a new era.
• Presents a captivating portrayal of the idyllic pre-industrial world of Hungarian Transylvania.
• Delves into the intricacies of love, societal constraints, and personal struggles.

About the Author

Miklós Bánffy is the author of "They Were Found Wanting and They Were Divided: The Transylvania Trilogy Vol. 2." He was a Hungarian nobleman, politician, and writer. Bánffy's works often explore themes of social change, political turmoil, and the decline of the aristocracy in pre-World War I Hungary. His writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose, rich character development, and evocative depiction of the historical setting.