During World War I Rebreanu was a reporter for the newspaper Adevărul, and he continued publishing short stories: Golanii ("The Hooligans") and Mărturisire (Confession) in 1916 and Răfuială ("Resentfullness") in 1919.

Ion Pop al Glanetașului, industrious son of poor parents, is consumed by his life-long passion for land owning.

Despite being in love with Florica, the beautiful girl of a poor widow, he sets his eyes on Ana, the plain looking daughter of rich land owner — Vasile Baciu.

The rich man, however, does not want him as his son-in-law, realising that he does not, in fact, love his only daughter, but only aims to take the easy path and marry into wealth.

One night, while Vasile is drunk and asleep, Ion pays Ana a secret visit and sleeps with her in spite of her pleading with him not to, therefore dishonoring her.

After more conflicts between the two stubborn men, Vasile decides to give Ion the hand of his daughter in marriage and part of the lands he owns.

He kisses and hugs the gained land, feeling as if this is his one true love, but meanwhile grows tired of Ana whom, despite by now being heavily pregnant, he beats up and scolds every day.

Despite also being married, Florica answers to Ion's wild passion and advances and Ana finally comprehends the cruel reality.

The novel follows his soul metamorphosis, under the influence of the Czech officer Klapka, who seeds in his heart the hatred against the Austrian empire and the love for the Romanian nation.