Can you sense in this triologism that the moving eloquence of this politician is a little too practised and contrived? He seems able to turn on the pathos like a light switch, complemented by a splendid baritone voice.

‘And, as always, he spoke beautifully, tear-wringing phrases fell from his mouth expressed in sonorous tones as rich as any cathedral organ.’

From Miklos Banffy’s splendid Transylvanian Trilogy, capturing the fading world of the Hungarian aristocracy either side the turn of the twentieth century.

Source: Miklos Banffy, They Were Found Wanting, trans. Patrick Thursfield and Katalin Banffy-Jelen (London: Arcadia Books, 2011 (1937)), p. 346