[2] Set in 16th-century Zagreb, right after Croatian-Slovene Peasant Revolt, the novel depicts Zagreb's urban life, fall of nobility and rise of citizenry that is slowly taking over institutions of society, intertwined by a plot of forbidden youth love of Dora, a goldsmith's daughter, and Pavle, a nobleman.
The novel was originally published in serial form between August and December 1871 in Vienac magazine.
It was subsequently translated into Czech, Esperanto, French, German, Polish, Russian, Slovak and Slovene.
[3] Andrija Maurović and Radovan Devlić published comic adaptations of the novel.
[4] A sculpture of central character Dora Krupić by Ivo Kerdić in the niche of the Stone Gate is one of Zagreb's most noted literary landmarks; Dora's home in the novel is situated near the Gate.