The Ant Heap

A lyrical evocation of convent life in Hungary at the beginning of the century, making the point that for some it is a straightjacket, while for others a refuge in defense of their faith. In the struggle for control of this refuge, modern ideas clash with religious observances, as does youth and age. The novel portrays the love of the girl pupils for the boys waiting for them in the outside world, and that of nuns and novices for each other