Liviu Rebreanu stands as a pivotal Romanian novelist, his works delving into the intricacies of the human psyche and societal struggles with profound insight. His realistic style and masterful characterizations illuminate the lives of ordinary individuals, exposing their internal conflicts and external pressures. Rebreanu focused on themes such as land ownership, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of human relationships, crafting enduring portraits of Romanian society. His literary legacy is defined by its raw honesty and deep understanding of human nature, marking him as an essential voice in Romanian literature.
Set in the interwar period, this psychological thriller follows Puiu, an aristocrat who commits a shocking crime by murdering his wife after a palace ball. To evade the consequences of his actions, his father orchestrates a plan to have him committed to a mental asylum rather than face a public trial. The narrative delves into themes of guilt, family loyalty, and the complexities of mental health, captivating Romanian readers with its intense psychological exploration.
During the First World War, just behind the eastern front, there was a forest, where Austrians and Hungarians used to hang deserters. To this place came Apostol Bologa, a young Romanian officer eager to serve his country. Born in a Romanian region of Transylvania which was then under Hungarian rule, he had naturally enough joined the Austro-Hungarian army. But soon Romania itself entered the war, and Bologa found himself fighting his own people. Forest of the Hanged asks a fundamental question about war: namely, why does a man fight? Apostol condemns an officer to death for desertion and attempting to give information to the enemy. He watches the execution of the officer with satisfaction until he witnesses a fellow soldier s grief and pity for the dead man. At this point his world shifts. His growing self-doubt and uncertainty lead him to question beliefs he once held without question. Unprepared for his own reaction when he is once again called to sit on a court martial, he finds that he too must go to the forest. This very rare, richly descriptive novel lays bare the inner conflict engendered by a total war, yet seldom expressed."
