In October 1918, a young Austrian officer of the Imperial Army, Herbert Menis, reinstates himself into the draft after a brief period of convalescence. Upon arriving in Belgrade, where he is stationed, he falls in love with Resa Lang, a young woman in Marie Antoinette's court. He decides to pursue her, and their romance develops amidst a milieu full of contrasts: the pomp of the court versus the Austro-Hungarian regiment facing the harshness and the losses of war. The main characters seem to be outside of their time, continuing traditions and a way of life characteristic of the Empire that will likely soon disappear. Is Herbert's love for his emblematic standard greater than his love for Resa? Originally published in 1934, this chronicle of traditions, love, and adventure is considered one of the best novels dealing with the chaos of the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the resulting emptiness left by its disintegration.