This novel tells the stories of 12 first-born sons of the fictional Hungarian Csillag/Stern family. Vamos covers 300 years of Hungarian history--from an 18th century eclipse to the 1999 eclipse. There is an 8-page author's note at the end--that I wish was at the beginning!-- in which Vamos explains how this book began as his attempt to write ab out his father's family. He did not know much, so his father and grandfather's lives became the basis for 2 of the 20th century characters, and he rest is fiction based in history. Astrology plays a roll (there's a reason there are 12 generations), as does the history and development of the Hungarian language (which is not so obvious in the translations).

The story starts with young Kornel Csillag, born 1702, who returns to Hungary with his mother and grandfather, who had fled a war. They settle, but the war is not over and their town is destroyed and nearly everyone killed. Kornel survives, and begins The Book of Fathers. A watch he finds gives each eldest son the gift of sight through his ancestors, and sometimes future visions as well. Through the generations they expand and add volumes to the book, and each man feels like he truly knew the previous generations.

This book is nearly 500 pages, but is both fun and fascinating to read. As boys/men find their talents, the wives they knew were coming, and speak languages they know because their ancestors did. They also find their fates, which their vague visions of the future left them confused about. It is clever and interesting, and is packed full of Hungarian history of the common people.

Vamos is a very well-known author in Hungary and has taught at Yale. He has many other works that I will look out for.