Kuća u strani: roman s otoka Brača

“A House Abroad: A Novel from the Island of Brač” is one of Kukučin’s works in which the author most fully combines realistic realism, knowledge of Dalmatian rural psychology and gentle, calm humor. Set on the island of Brač, the novel depicts life in a closed rural community in which every family decision is observed, commented on and judged. The central family, faced with gossip, injustice and constant pressure from their neighbours, decides to build a house outside the village — “in the countryside”. This decision becomes the starting point for a multi-layered story about social isolation, pride, solidarity and coping with the cramped confines of everyday village life.

Kukučin skillfully depicts the internal tensions between family members, their fears, hopes and small victories. The new home outside the village symbolises resistance to dishonesty and the desire for peace, but also the price of separation from the community. Typical Kukučin motifs are strongly present in the novel: simple people faced with moral challenges, nature as a silent companion of life, and the struggle between traditional customs and personal desires.

The characters are portrayed with warmth, without idealization, but with an understanding of their humanity. The author immerses himself in the mentality of the Brač community: stubbornness, a sense of honor, the importance of a good reputation, and sensitivity to every social shift. Through vivid dialogues, descriptions of work, festivities, beliefs, and small everyday incidents, Kukučin creates an authentic picture of life on the island at the end of the 19th century.

"A House Abroad" thus becomes more than a family story — a novel about community, identity, and the value of independence, told with gentle humor and the subtle, human warmth that characterizes Kukučin's style.