It is not one of my favorite books because I had to study it in school and prepare it for the baccalaureate but I can't deny the literary talent of Rebreanu. He is a master at describing the innner and outer turmoil on the Transylvanian community that he was ultimately part of. The book gravitates around Ion, a poor country boy. He badly wants to own a piece of land ( recurring theme in early Romanian lit.)and in order to get it without paying he has to charm and marry the village's richest man's naive daughter. At the same time he craves for another woman whom he cannot have. Or can he? This story about unfulfilled love amazes through its rawness of the characters and of the images. The psychology is excellent showing how the basic needs and desires of simple people drive them to do what they do and how it turns out...you will see.

This is my favourite book. I just finished reading it 2mins ago. I loved it. Rebreanu writes in a great mannerly fashion, describing the lives of romanians living under the hungaryan reign before Romania became one in 1918. He underlines one's love for land, and his choice between land and love. Liviu Rebreanu also tells the story of other town folk with their troubles each stepping form time to time across the hero's path. I loved it, it made me happy :-)

Almost everyone will find some part of this book interesting. Even if you weren't a straight A student in science class back in high school or college, the bits of science you do know are probably woven into the grander tapestry of science and time in a way you'll appreciate.

A revolutionary novel in terms of subject matter, no pun intended. Rebreanu paints his characters wonderfully, never condescending nor pandering. Very fast moving, almost breathless. The sex and violence get in the way occasionally, but this does not detract from the artistry of the writer. One can only imagine the impact this novel must have had on the Rumanian reading public back in the day. Rebreanu's most famous novel is "Ion," but skip it and read this instead. If this novel doesn't make your blood boil, nothing will.