A csókok éjszakája és egyéb elbeszélések

In a distant, almost timeless Asian kingdom, the tale opens with the myth of Illi, a saintly woman whose brutal death at the hands of a jealous husband gives rise to an eerie, yearly rite. The “Night of Kisses” is a single evening when the streets fall silent, husbands retire to attic chambers, and the women of the realm are granted a fleeting freedom to break their vows. The narrative paints the ritual in vivid, almost lyrical detail, hinting at a deeper philosophical reflection on love, power, and the ways societies cope with violence and grief.

Against this backdrop, the story follows Nikola, a young scholar who watches the nocturnal procession from his study, his mind buzzing with questions about faith, justice, and human longing. As the night unfurls, listeners are drawn into a world where tradition and rebellion intertwine, setting the stage for a subtle exploration of desire and conscience that lingers long after the bells have faded.