This is a story of two people in love, two people trying to change history, two people crushed by the forces of reaction. But it's also the story of an idea that could not be destroyed. I found this book immensely challenging - both irritating and enthralling at the same time. Its style ranges from documentary history through psychological analysis to dramatic reconstruction. The narrative lacks dramatic drive, but I felt that Enquist is trying to show that major events are infected by the mundane. For me, a very strange read indeed.
On the morning of January 16, the plans were reviewed again, several insignificant changes were added, and the decision was made to execute the coup the following night.
It would be a long night. First dinner. Then tea. After that the masked ball. Then the coup d'etat.
