A fehér páva : Kisvárosi történet

Set in 1909, the story opens in the sleepy town of Varjas, a modest community perched in the Topoly valley, still waiting for a railway line to link it with bustling Budapest. The townsfolk see their hometown as a self‑contained world, caught between the romantic allure of the capital and the stubborn, traditional rhythm of rural life. Through the eyes of merchants, university students and a dignified old Hungarian strolling the main street, the narrative sketches the social fabric that both binds and divides the residents.

A local rivalry simmers between the pro‑rail “trainers” and the anti‑rail “cobblers,” each mocking the other’s ambitions while the town’s leaders weigh promises of progress against the fear of losing its identity. The arrival of bright‑minded students from the capital brings fashionable ideas and modern concerns that clash with the entrenched customs of the older generation. As the summer heat settles over Varjas, the community teeters on the brink of change, hinting at the inevitable upheaval that the new line may bring.