Rates of Exchange

Main Characters and Their Development

• The English linguist Peter Sinclair, who finds himself in the enigmatic and peculiar country of Slavia, appears as a man whose naive faith in the power of language and culture is tested at every turn. His inner world, initially filled with academic confidence and Western rationality, gradually becomes fraught with doubt and anxiety: confronted with the absurdity of Slavian reality, with its ambiguity and uncertainty, the protagonist is forced to reconsider his own beliefs and views on the nature of human communication. Around Sinclair revolve vivid and multi-layered figures: Professor Babich, embodying ironic wisdom and adaptability, becomes a kind of guide for the hero through the labyrinth of local customs; the mysterious and charming Zdenka, with her subtle irony and inner freedom, opens new horizons of feeling and understanding for Sinclair. Every character—be it an official, a student, or a chance companion—seems to reflect Slavia itself: unpredictable, multifaceted, full of hidden meanings. As the story unfolds, the characters do not so much change as reveal new, unexpected facets, allowing the reader to see how fragile and relative all cultural and personal identities are.