
Set in a bleak, wintry Budapest of the late 19th century, the narrator awakens to a baffling condition—he has no blood flowing through his veins. His desperate attempts to understand this eerie emptiness are narrated with dark humor and a stark, almost poetic description of a world that seems to reject him. As he drifts through streets and theatres, his voice oscillates between bitter self‑reflection and a fierce, unsettling desire for vengeance.
The story immerses listeners in a labyrinth of memories, old grudges, and a haunting longing for a love that feels both impossible and all‑consuming. Through vivid, unsettling imagery—salted water as sustenance, phantom duels, and a body that feels like a shadow—the protagonist confronts his own mortality while the city watches in muted indifference. This first act promises a compelling blend of gothic atmosphere and psychological intrigue, drawing you into a world where the line between life and death blurs.
Language
hu
Duration
~2 hours (123K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Albert László, Robert Mouris, Judit Bíró and the Hungarian Distributed Proofreading Team (http://dphu.aladar.hu) from page images generously made available by the Google Books Library Project
Release date
2014-08-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1924
A bold Hungarian novelist, playwright, and journalist, he helped bring modern urban life and sharp social realism into Hungarian literature. His work is often remembered for its vivid characters, direct style, and attention to people on the edges of society.
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