
A bright, ambitious lawyer from Budapest decides to leave the city’s bustle for the tranquil countryside, bringing with him his stylish, musical wife and a handful of hopes for a new life. They settle on a sprawling estate surrounded by orchards, forests, and old stone mansions, where the rhythms of village life pulse through every sunrise. As they host gatherings in the grand hall and share pastries with the local ladies, the couple discovers both the warmth of neighborly camaraderie and the subtle tensions that linger beneath polite conversation.
Through vivid scenes of children chasing each other along tree‑lined paths and locals gathering around the church bells, the story paints a rich portrait of a community caught between tradition and the promise of modernity. The newcomers’ attempts to weave themselves into this tapestry reveal the delicate balance of pride, generosity, and the quiet longing for belonging that defines rural life at the turn of the century.
Language
hu
Duration
~2 hours (138K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Budapest: Athenaeum, 1893.
Credits
Albert László from page images generously made available by the Hungarian Electronic Library
Release date
2024-01-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1837–1902
A sharp-eyed Hungarian novelist and editor, he wrote with unusual force about provincial life, social tensions, and the moral strains of his time. His work is remembered for its realism, restless energy, and unsparing portraits of character.
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