Prince Zilah is a celebrated war veteran of Hungary. He and his father fought in many battles to free Hungary from oppression. But since those battles and the death of his father, Prince Zilah has lived a life without passion. From day to day, he eats and sleeps, surviving -- but survival is not the same as living. Then, one day, Baronness Dinati introduces Prince Zilah to Marsa Laszlo, a mysterious young woman whom he falls in love with, intending to marry. But during the celebration of the upcoming marriage, Marsa speaks to one of Prince Zilah's friends -- Michel Menko -- and something in the brusqueness of their interaction leaves Zilah suspicious. Jules Claretie was a French literary figure and director of the Theatre Francais. He was also a member of the Academie Francaise.

Author Biography

Jules Arsene Arnaud Claretie (1840 - 1913) was a French literary figure and director of the Theatre Francais. He was born at Limoges. After studying at the lycee Bonaparte in Paris, he became a journalist, achieving great success as dramatic critic to Le Figaro and to the Opinion nationale. He was a newspaper correspondent during the Franco-Prussian War, and during the Paris Commune acted as staff-officer in the National Guard. In 1885 he became director of the Theatre Francais, and from that time devoted his time chiefly to its administration until his death. During the battle for Octave Mirbeau's comedy Les affaires sont les affaires (Business is business), the Comite de Lecture was abolished in October 1901 and Jules Claretie obtained sole responsibility for choosing the modern plays to be performed.