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The City of Earthly Desire
Set partially in Budapest, Hungary shortly after the collapse of communism, The City of Earthly Desire is a sweeping novel of love and lust, beauty and vulgarity, humor and pathos, and art and ethics. The story is peopled by a memorable cast of characters who are as intense, turbulent, and ambivalent as the place and time they occupy. Like the great novels of the 19th century, the narrative is epic in scope – entertaining and humorous, yet profound.
After the communists destroy his dreams of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son, Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an ambitious, alluring Hungarian striptease dancer whose interest in Béla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism?
His decision ultimately plunges him headlong into a world fueled by envy, greed, and lust – a world of self-seeking ambition where only the twin pillars of carnal pleasure and material success are sacrosanct. Will Béla be able reunite with Suzy and maintain his integrity or will he succumb to the temptations of the earthly city?
After the communists destroy his dreams of becoming a recognized painter, Reinhardt Drixler escapes Hungary and moves to America to further his artistic ambitions and provide a better future for his young family.
Twenty-five years later, his son, Béla falls in love with Suzy Kiss, an ambitious, alluring Hungarian striptease dancer whose interest in Béla can be summarized in two words: green card.
When Suzy is mysteriously deported, a devastated Béla must make a decision – should he stay in New York and continue with the noble artistic ambitions his father instilled in him, or should he follow his heart to Hungary and explore the enticing and risqué opportunities blossoming in Budapest after the collapse of communism?
His decision ultimately plunges him headlong into a world fueled by envy, greed, and lust – a world of self-seeking ambition where only the twin pillars of carnal pleasure and material success are sacrosanct. Will Béla be able reunite with Suzy and maintain his integrity or will he succumb to the temptations of the earthly city?
550 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2012
10 people are currently reading
1609 people want to read
About the author
Francis Berger
167 books36 followersFrancis Berger was born in New York City in 1971. He has published some short stories, most notably in The Toronto Star. His first novel, The City of Earthly Desire, was released in 2012. He currently resides in a small village near Sopron, Hungary.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 19, 2013
The thing I loved most about this book, besides the plot, are the characters in it. The story follows the two main characters, Reinhardt and Bela and the struggles they overcome. The City of Earthly Desire is a story of people becoming who they want to be, never forgetting who they are and where they come from. The story contains symbolism such as art, animals and communism propaganda to illustrate the Drixler's family self independence and knowledge of who they want to become and why they can never be like the communists and it is done in a great and powerful way, Art is the symbolism that drives the whole story as Reinhardts immediate family are all into art. The book's supporting characters are all intriguing and offer a lot to the story, they serve a purpose. Most of the supporting characters shape and influence the way the two main characters think and view life. They shape them into who they will become or even who they don't become.
It's a very interesting read with a great dialogue and characters,if you're a fan of literature, I recommend this book highly, you won't regret it. I was hooked from the very first sentence
A wonderful story about finding yourself and learning how to cope with hardships.
It's a very interesting read with a great dialogue and characters,if you're a fan of literature, I recommend this book highly, you won't regret it. I was hooked from the very first sentence
A wonderful story about finding yourself and learning how to cope with hardships.
February 27, 2013
A provocative tale that spans a generational history of the Drixler family and the various life choices they encounter. In the pursuit of love, creative expression and success our main character is lured toward a dream only to find a complex web of lies hidden by his own naivety and the greed of others. Between love and lust he finds a path of indulgence where true happiness is elusive.
As an artist myself I found the book highly engaging. It has left me contemplating the many messages woven into the fabric of this story.
As an artist myself I found the book highly engaging. It has left me contemplating the many messages woven into the fabric of this story.
February 17, 2013
The City of Earthly Desire is a novel that grips you from the start. I knew as soon as I read the first sentence, I was hooked. One can not help but to feel a parental love and concern for the main character of Bela. You want to hug him and slap some sense into him all at the same moment. It is not just the characters that draw you into the novel, but also the story line. The twists and turns are not a disappointment. Ultimately, what left the greatest impression on me, was learning about a country I knew little about. The City of Earthly Desire has encouraged me to further my knowledge of Hungary and other former communist countries.
December 11, 2012
It's an amazing book, read half of it in one afternoon couldn't put it down, waiting for the next one:)))
November 24, 2014
Great story!
This is a long book but it has a lot of really great characters and a very interesting storyline. Great job!
This is a long book but it has a lot of really great characters and a very interesting storyline. Great job!
June 14, 2014
The City of Earthly Desire
by Francis Berger
Political oppression, intense characters, family struggles, love, moral depravity, and a captivating narrative fill this historical novel. Berger gives us enough material to make a mini-series. We follow the Drixler family, specifically the son, Reinhardt, who we follow from birth to old age then his son, Bella, who we follow from birth to adulthood. We are also given time with Reinhardt's mother to see the stock from which this family came.
We begin with a history lesson in the cost of communism. They are stripped of what has been earned by hard work. Left in poverty and often without a means to secure food and basic needs for themselves. In some ways worse was the taking of their dreams. Few were able to escape to freedom. One who was able to was Reinhardt. We spend much of our time with him and his family in New York as he is passionate about building a better future for his family. We also see his passion for art and the way he chooses to teach his son.
Berger gives a novel filled with contrast and comparison as we see Reinhardt's life filled with love, commitment, and purity only to be heartbroken as these lessons are lost on the next generation. When Bella begins his downward spiral it is almost more than Reinhardt can stand and this life choice seems to have stolen Bella's soul. We see lust fulfilled, disregard for human life, and the depravity of man at its worse. We see deception, perversion and manipulation and self glorification.
The descriptive nature of the strip clubs, pornographic photo shoots, film making and relationships among those involved is difficult reading. It fills so many chapters and it shows the escalation of lust sickening to the soul.
We are eventually out of this time period and Berger does an exceptional work in the last portion of our story. I will not be specific as to avoid spoilers.
Berger's style of writing is remarkable; fine and clear enough for the reader to follow and yet complex enough to allow reader to think and ponder. He challenges the intellect without alienating the simple.
The intensity with which he develops his characters demands we know them. They range the entire spectrum of passions lust, jealousy, hate, love and forgiveness. We see inside their very heart and many times we either love or hate them. Because he has written covering so many years of our character's lives it is especially gratifying to see the way he develops them as they grow older. He again gives us contrast and comparison. Not all who grow older mature. We see some who learn to forgive, to embrace change, and to forsake poor choices. We see others determined to stay the course they have set.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, Berger's writing style and his characters.
by Francis Berger
Political oppression, intense characters, family struggles, love, moral depravity, and a captivating narrative fill this historical novel. Berger gives us enough material to make a mini-series. We follow the Drixler family, specifically the son, Reinhardt, who we follow from birth to old age then his son, Bella, who we follow from birth to adulthood. We are also given time with Reinhardt's mother to see the stock from which this family came.
We begin with a history lesson in the cost of communism. They are stripped of what has been earned by hard work. Left in poverty and often without a means to secure food and basic needs for themselves. In some ways worse was the taking of their dreams. Few were able to escape to freedom. One who was able to was Reinhardt. We spend much of our time with him and his family in New York as he is passionate about building a better future for his family. We also see his passion for art and the way he chooses to teach his son.
Berger gives a novel filled with contrast and comparison as we see Reinhardt's life filled with love, commitment, and purity only to be heartbroken as these lessons are lost on the next generation. When Bella begins his downward spiral it is almost more than Reinhardt can stand and this life choice seems to have stolen Bella's soul. We see lust fulfilled, disregard for human life, and the depravity of man at its worse. We see deception, perversion and manipulation and self glorification.
The descriptive nature of the strip clubs, pornographic photo shoots, film making and relationships among those involved is difficult reading. It fills so many chapters and it shows the escalation of lust sickening to the soul.
We are eventually out of this time period and Berger does an exceptional work in the last portion of our story. I will not be specific as to avoid spoilers.
Berger's style of writing is remarkable; fine and clear enough for the reader to follow and yet complex enough to allow reader to think and ponder. He challenges the intellect without alienating the simple.
The intensity with which he develops his characters demands we know them. They range the entire spectrum of passions lust, jealousy, hate, love and forgiveness. We see inside their very heart and many times we either love or hate them. Because he has written covering so many years of our character's lives it is especially gratifying to see the way he develops them as they grow older. He again gives us contrast and comparison. Not all who grow older mature. We see some who learn to forgive, to embrace change, and to forsake poor choices. We see others determined to stay the course they have set.
I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, Berger's writing style and his characters.
December 6, 2014
I generally avoid self-published books, but I noticed this one being promoted for free on Amazon a while back. I downloaded it, then forgot about it, then remembered it, then nearly deleted it when I realized it was over 500 pages long. In the end, I gave it try. I'm glad I did.
In the end, all I can say is this - there are good novels and there are great novels. Even though the novel had some flaws, I would be tempted to place it in the great category. What made it a great read for me was the grandeur of the narrative's scope. Behind its plot and characters, it plunges deep beneath the surface of life and explores eternal themes and the bittersweet tragedy of the human condition. Very few novels do that these days.
In the end, all I can say is this - there are good novels and there are great novels. Even though the novel had some flaws, I would be tempted to place it in the great category. What made it a great read for me was the grandeur of the narrative's scope. Behind its plot and characters, it plunges deep beneath the surface of life and explores eternal themes and the bittersweet tragedy of the human condition. Very few novels do that these days.
June 21, 2014
Having read a lot of historical fiction set in England I was really excited to read about a different country and culture – I wasn't disappointed. The book has a great story line moving through different generations of the same family with inter-woven plots. I also learned a lot about Hungary, a country I previously had no real knowledge about. This is a relatively long novel at 540 pages and can be quite intense at times – probably not one for the beach, but it is a great read and by the time you finish you feel like you have a real relationship with the Drixler family.
This review is based on a complimentary copy of the book from the author.
This review is based on a complimentary copy of the book from the author.
February 7, 2013
Francis pens "The City of Earthly Desire" in a original plot filled with historical content, love, lust and a bit of humor. His characters were strong and well developed making this book a page turner. Highly recommended for all readers.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
February 26, 2013
A Must Read ! Great storytelling !
December 20, 2014
An engaging and thoughtful read..
Read
June 20, 2020i love it just wow
August 17, 2024
He told me that i cant read it cuz I am not 18 or something. BTW i am his son
February 18, 2025
I don’t wish to spoil anything, so I won’t talk much about the plot. Instead, I will simply describe my feelings about it.
The novel gripped me immediately and kept me interested throughout - I accompanied the changes in scenery, from the Communist-ravaged Danube-Swabian culture of rural Hungary, to the hustle and bustle of New York and lastly to the seedy underbelly of Budapest, and the development of the characters throughout. I was always eager to know what came next from beginning to end.
The main characters come alive without being over-described, the choices they make make them feel like real people. After a while it does seem like you know them, which only makes the dark subject matter harder to stomach and their downward spirals and disappointments more unnerving and disheartening. Some reviewers apparently found one of the main characters, Béla, ‘too stupid to be realistic’, but I don’t share their opinion: I know how stupid I am, and how stupid people can be. Others found another character, Suzy, ‘too evil’ and ‘too narcissistic’, but once again, I know how evil and narcissistic I can be, and how evil and narcissistic some people are. A few minor characters, the English journalist Verge and the Russian kingpin Vikshi especially, I felt could have been major ones in other novels - despite their relatively short appearances, they were rich enough to make you wonder about their origin stories.
Despite its dark topics there is never any doubt as to where the narrator stands, there is no moral relativism, instead one knows exactly what is right and what is wrong, even when the characters do not, or especially when they do not. To use a prominent symbol from the book, there is always a white stag, a traditional symbol of goodness and beauty and truth, to serve as a moral and spiritual compass, as it did for the Danube-Swabians who adopted it as their own symbol and as it does for the main characters, even if they sometimes lose sight of it.
This is a self-published novel, and not having had the benefit of a professional copy-editor, a few typos do appear and a few small words are missing from time to time, but they don’t really affect the reading in my opinion. I always knew what was meant, and if you’re a fast reader, you won’t even notice them as you, too, will skip over pronouns and prepositions to get to the meat even when they appear where they’re suppose to, and so you will add them instinctively even when they are not there.
To say I liked the book, or enjoyed it, is not to do it justice. It reads very well - despite its size it took me about a week - but it is a hard book. I am glad I read it, and I consider it a well written and effective book. as I went to bed after finishing, the main characters and their stories were still going around in my mind. Most books don't do that to me.
The novel gripped me immediately and kept me interested throughout - I accompanied the changes in scenery, from the Communist-ravaged Danube-Swabian culture of rural Hungary, to the hustle and bustle of New York and lastly to the seedy underbelly of Budapest, and the development of the characters throughout. I was always eager to know what came next from beginning to end.
The main characters come alive without being over-described, the choices they make make them feel like real people. After a while it does seem like you know them, which only makes the dark subject matter harder to stomach and their downward spirals and disappointments more unnerving and disheartening. Some reviewers apparently found one of the main characters, Béla, ‘too stupid to be realistic’, but I don’t share their opinion: I know how stupid I am, and how stupid people can be. Others found another character, Suzy, ‘too evil’ and ‘too narcissistic’, but once again, I know how evil and narcissistic I can be, and how evil and narcissistic some people are. A few minor characters, the English journalist Verge and the Russian kingpin Vikshi especially, I felt could have been major ones in other novels - despite their relatively short appearances, they were rich enough to make you wonder about their origin stories.
Despite its dark topics there is never any doubt as to where the narrator stands, there is no moral relativism, instead one knows exactly what is right and what is wrong, even when the characters do not, or especially when they do not. To use a prominent symbol from the book, there is always a white stag, a traditional symbol of goodness and beauty and truth, to serve as a moral and spiritual compass, as it did for the Danube-Swabians who adopted it as their own symbol and as it does for the main characters, even if they sometimes lose sight of it.
This is a self-published novel, and not having had the benefit of a professional copy-editor, a few typos do appear and a few small words are missing from time to time, but they don’t really affect the reading in my opinion. I always knew what was meant, and if you’re a fast reader, you won’t even notice them as you, too, will skip over pronouns and prepositions to get to the meat even when they appear where they’re suppose to, and so you will add them instinctively even when they are not there.
To say I liked the book, or enjoyed it, is not to do it justice. It reads very well - despite its size it took me about a week - but it is a hard book. I am glad I read it, and I consider it a well written and effective book. as I went to bed after finishing, the main characters and their stories were still going around in my mind. Most books don't do that to me.
June 1, 2014
I thought Berger told an interesting story. I liked the insight into Post-Communist Hungary. I found the protagonist to be likable. On the other hand I found many of the characters annoying, the main ethical/aesthetic question, "Where is the divide between figurative fine art and pornography? to be unanswered and despite the almost 600 pages in length he left us with undeveloped characters and shallow motivation. I finished it, but there were times when I came close to putting it down.
February 13, 2019
This was the best gifts I ever got. Its an amazing story that is written is such a magical way that you get sucked in right away. The story is wise, insightful, makes you think and is still edgy and takes into account the human nature of things. I cant praise the book or the author enough. I wish Francis wrote a library of books that I could keep reading. I finished the book a few weeks ago and miss it everyday.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews