First book in trilogy about family Dukays. Set since 1814 until 1914.
Set in the revolutionary Europe around 1848, this is the story of two Hungarian brothers who occupy opposing political and ideological camps: Dali, a fiery, freedom-loving romantic, and Antal, a conservative bureaucrat. Throughout the tale, vivid portraits of historical figures appear: Prince Metternich, the Austro-Hungarian chancellor; Tsar Nicholas I; and Lajos Kossuth, the hero of the fight for Hungarian independence. Lajos Zilahy's graphic recreations of the momentous historical events and the passionate private lives of his characters form an unforgettable portrait of 19th-century Europe. Lajos Zilahy was the leading Hungarian novelist of the 20th century; among his books are Two Prisoners and The Deserters.