The TV adaptation of László Németh's monumental novel spans Hungarian history in the first half of the 20th century. Protagonist Eszter's more or less average life is just a frame for the story. The location is an imaginary dusty town in the Alföld, the plain south-east area of the country. Eszter was born and raised here by her father, a lawyer for the poor. After World War I she marries a young pharmacist. They move to a nearby village where she experiences the happiest period of her life. After returning to the city she bears a son and a daughter. However, Esther becomes estranged more and more from her husband and his environment. Towards the end of WWII the family splits up: Józsi flees for west with little Esther; Józsika stays with his mother. She qualifies herself for work and for living her life independently.