The Yellow Rose

"The Yellow Rose" by Mór Jókai is a novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds in the vast Hungarian plains, focusing on the intertwined lives of herdsmen and a maiden known as "The Yellow Rose." Central to the story are Sándor Decsi, a csikós (horseherd) embroiled in a romantic entanglement, and Klári, the innkeeper's daughter, whose innocent love leads to a grave misunderstanding. At the start of the novel, the scene is set on the Hortobágy, where Sándor rides through the grassy expanse, showcasing a vibrant connection to his environment. Meanwhile, the narrative introduces Klári, a young woman of notable beauty, who is intricately linked to the legendary yellow rose, a flower that symbolizes her allure and the complexities of her romance with Sándor. As her feelings lead her to make a fateful decision involving a magical root, the tension between love, jealousy, and misfortune begins to unfold, hinting at the dramatic developments to come. The opening establishes the novel's themes of love, betrayal, and the struggle for personal desires amidst societal expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Móricz Jókay of Ásva, known as Mór Jókai, was a Hungarian novelist, dramatist and revolutionary. Outside of Hungary, he was also known as Maurice Jókai or Maurus Jokai or Mauritius Jókai. He was a leader of the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 in Pest. His romantic novels became widely popular among the elite of Victorian England, where he was often compared to Charles Dickens by the press. One of his most famous admirers was Queen Victoria herself.