
A playful, epistolary portrait of Budapest’s high society in 1906 unfolds through the rambling letters of Galanthay Masa, a self‑styled countess who writes to the young Helén with a mixture of wit, vanity and bewildered sincerity. Her missives swing from earnest pleas about a sick relative to absurd observations about daily routines—morning corn‑drinking, lawn‑tennis, and the endless parade of social obligations—painting a vivid picture of a world teetering between elegance and absurdity.
Through Masa’s tangled narratives, listeners glimpse the tangled webs of family expectations, modest debts, and the allure of a seaside escape to Trouville. Her voice, equal parts comic and tender, reveals a woman striving to balance propriety with personal desire, all while navigating the whims of her eccentric relatives. The first act sets the stage for a lively exploration of love, pretension, and the small dramas that shape everyday life in a bygone era.
Language
hu
Duration
~7 hours (407K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Albert László from page images generously made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library
Release date
2020-10-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1861–1932
A sharp-eyed Hungarian novelist, critic, and translator, he helped shape literary life in Budapest around the turn of the 20th century. His work is known for its psychological insight, polished style, and close attention to modern urban society.
View all books