Zmija oko vrata I-II

The main character is a doctor Neva, whose life is marked by war horrors, moral dilemmas and personal losses. We follow her experiences in everyday life at war – working in a hospital, meeting the wounded, dealing with occupation and violence. Important characters are her brother Krste and the Croatian volunteer Marko, Neva's great love, whose relationship brings elements of intimate drama in the midst of war chaos.

The title metaphorically refers to the constant threat, fear and suffocation that war imposes on people like a snake that wraps around their necks – it is impossible to get rid of it, and at the same time it is a part of everyday life. Through realistic, emotional and psychologically profound descriptions, the author depicts:

• the trauma of civilians and soldiers
• love that survives in impossible conditions
• the ethical challenges of the medical profession in war
• the destruction of family and human relationships

The novel is a continuation of motifs from the author's earlier work (e.g. "Woman in a Silk Shirt") and is part of an important literary witness prose about the Homeland War, with an emphasis on the female perspective and internal conflicts.