"One of a Kind" narrates the intriguing tale of a young English writer who finds himself immersed in the life of Marian Tiriac, a Romanian dissident living in exile. Their paths cross repeatedly, sparking conversations about art, literature, and the enigmatic Nicolai Petrescu. As the writer delves deeper, he uncovers a narrative that challenges his understanding of artistic greatness.

Initial Encounter at a Literary Gathering

At their first meeting, the narrator and Marian Tiriac engage in a lively discussion about Romanian artistic contributions. The narrator notes Romania's pattern of producing one exceptional artist per discipline, citing examples across music, cinema, and other arts. Tiriac enriches this list with additional names, seemingly validating the narrator's theory. However, they soon realize that a great Romanian novelist remains absent from their list. Tiriac humorously concludes that Romania simply lacks such novelists.

A Journey to Romania

A year later, the narrator attends a writer's conference in Bucharest. During his exploration of the city, he stumbles upon a significant bookstore with a striking window display dedicated entirely to a single book. The author, Nicolai Petrescu, intrigues the narrator, leading him to suspect Petrescu's prominence in Romanian literary circles.

Crossing Paths with Marian Tiriac Again

Back in England, the narrator encounters Tiriac once more and queries him about Nicolai Petrescu, whose book held such a prominent position in Bucharest. Tiriac recounts his past with Petrescu, revealing their close bond as young writers under the stifling influence of the Communist regime. Both men faced censorship and oppression; however, Petrescu crafted an ambitious plan to pen a novel that would cleverly satirize the regime while pretending to glorify it. In a bold declaration, Petrescu vowed to cease writing forever if his plan succeeded, ensuring his masterpiece stood alone in its purpose. Tiriac left Romania before the completion of Petrescu’s work, and their friendship faded without further contact.

The Unveiling of The Wedding Cake

Years later, Tiriac learns through his mother’s letter that Petrescu's novel, titled The Wedding Cake, achieved considerable acclaim. The title references a derogatory term for grandiose Soviet architecture imposed on Eastern Europe, known as "wedding-cake architecture." Tiriac assumes this was the book prominently displayed in Bucharest, embodying Petrescu's satirical genius.

A New Discovery

Upon finishing Tiriac's tale about Nicolai Petrescu, the narrator reveals a surprising detail: the book in the bookstore display was not The Wedding Cake but something else entirely. Neither man comments on what seems a betrayal of Petrescu's promise to never write again after The Wedding Cake. Instead, Tiriac offers a final observation, suggesting that Petrescu represents yet another "one of a kind" figure for Romania, this time as a great ironist.