"Melancholy of Resistance" is a novel written by Hungarian writer Krasnohorcay Laszlo in 1989. It is also the original work of Béla Tarr's film "The Circus of the Whales".
The novel unfolds a series of fragmented story descriptions around several characters such as the protagonist Mrs. Estaire, Mrs. Flaum, and the young man Valushka, presenting chaotic events in a Hungarian town from many aspects: a giant whale was transported to the town by the circus, and the onlookers each had different motives and intentions. Soon after, rumors spread around the town that the circus people were quietly hatching a nefarious purpose, and frightened citizens latched onto any manifestation of order they could find to criticize—music, cosmology, fascism, whatever.
Reader comments
The author of this book is really great. He presents the chaos of a small Hungarian town through fragmented stories, which made me enjoy reading it. The characters in the story are very vivid, and their motivations and intentions made me think deeply. Especially the appearance of the giant whale adds to the mystery. It feels like watching a wonderful movie!
Very good, the picture is very strong
The world does not move from perfection to collapse, but is itself in a state of eternal decay.
The author of this book is really great. He presents the chaos of a small Hungarian town through fragmented stories, which made me enjoy reading it. The characters in the story are very vivid, and their motivations and intentions made me think deeply. Especially the appearance of the giant whale adds to the mystery. It feels like watching a wonderful movie!
Very good, the picture is very strong
The world does not move from perfection to collapse, but is itself in a state of eternal decay.