It is her most popular work and is regarded as a classic piece of Czech literature.

The main action of the novel seems to take place during the first one or two years after the Grandmother has come to live at the Old Bleachery with her daughter's family, to help manage the household.

The father is frequently absent due to his job as equerry to the local noblewoman, which takes him away to Vienna during the winter.

The principal action of the story is to tell the intertwining tales of Viktorka, Kristla, and the Countess.

The author is identified with Barunka, the eldest daughter of the Prošek family; however, the novel is not told from her point of view.