This work investigates the historical reality of Stephen I of Hungary, contrasting his actual reign with the subsequent myth-making that transformed him into a national symbol. Nora Berend, a scholar specializing in medieval European history, utilizes a rigorous analysis of primary sources, hagiographies, and archaeological evidence to strip away centuries of ideological layering. The book argues that Stephen's conversion and state-building efforts were complex political maneuvers rather than the singular, miraculous events depicted in later nationalistic narratives.

Historians and scholars of medieval Europe recognize this text as a critical intervention in the study of Hungarian state formation. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for an audience familiar with medieval historiography and political theory.