Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. The book’s narrative spans from 1934 to 1961, during which time Budapest’s population grows from about 1 million to about 1.8 million. The vast majority of the novel takes place in Budapest, as it is where each of the main characters resides for most or all of the novel. The larger political changes that Budapest experiences are integral to the narrative, specifically Nazi occupation and the subsequent rule of the Soviet Union.

Katalin Street

Katalin Street is a street in Budapest, Hungary, at the beginning of the novel. The Elekes family, the Biró family, and the Held family all live next to one another in houses on Katalin Street. However, the Held family is eventually occupied by the Nazis, and years later, the Elekes family and the Biró family are forced by the Soviet government to move to smaller accommodations. Katalin Street represents the...