Gróf Gvadányi József és Fazekas Mihály (Magyar remekirók 6. kötet)

In the waning years of the eighteenth century, a seasoned officer from a storied, partly Italian‑Hungarian lineage finds himself drawn away from the battlefield and into the salons of Budapest. Count Gvadányi József, whose family history is tangled with the wars of Europe and the early struggles of the Hungarian kingdom, has survived wounds, captivity and the turbulence of the Ottoman front. Now, retired and restless, he seeks a new kind of battle: the struggle to give voice to his nation’s emerging identity.

The novel opens with Gvadányi’s unexpected encounter with the young, idealistic poet Fazekas Mihály, whose verses pulse with the hope of a people on the brink of awakening. Together they navigate the vibrant literary circles of the time, confronting censorship, patronage and the clash between old aristocratic values and the rising tide of patriotism. Their collaboration offers a vivid portrait of an era when words could be as powerful as swords, setting the stage for a journey that will test both friendship and conviction.