Synopses & Reviews
The Esterházys, one of Europes most prominent aristocratic families, are closely linked to the rise and fall of the Hapsburg Empire. Through centuries of epic conquest, tragedy, triumph, and near destruction, the Esterházys were immortalized in history and literature. In Celestial Harmonies, Péter Esterházy, a bestselling novelist in Europe, chronicles the story of his extraordinary family, in a structurally innovative fiction that combines the traditions of a grand European epic with a post-modern tragicomedy. Part One explores the emotional ties between generations of Esterházysfathers and sons, women and menin short passages of oral history that brim with poignancy, humor, and historical testimony. Part Two tells the story of the Esterházy family in the 20th century, ending in the 1960s, including a portrait of life during the short-lived post-war years, when Hungary again fell under Soviet rule and the Esterházys succumbed to dispossession, resettlement, and poverty. Dazzling in scope and profound in implication, Celestial Harmonies is a rich, entertaining, awe-inspiring fiction, told by the heir to one of historys most significant legacies.
About the Author
Péter Esterházy, a member of one of Europes most prominent aristocratic families, was born in Budapest in 1950. His books, published mostly in Europe, are considered to be significant contributions to postwar literature.