The book is an historical novel (fiction) retelling the history of the Hungarian revolution in 1956 and the events preceding it. The many characters of the novel are well developed and there is richness in this. The beaurocrats of the Department of Education's chain of commandment, the AHV doctor, the aristocrats in hiding, the aunt still living in the old days, the sassy and sexy colleague at the school, to name a few.  The book is also enriched by some episodes that take place far from Budapest and give a good picture of life in the forgotten villages of the countryside. Szalay, the author of the distinguished Hungarian Prima-prize brings enough of the actual events and documents (fliers, radio, nrwespaper reports) into the story to give you a sense of the unfolding developments in the country as he relates his personal account.