Gorak okus duše

The plot is set in the first half of the 16th century, a period marked by the penetration of the Ottomans into Europe. Dubrovnik, through a skillful diplomatic game with the Turks, manages to maintain its independence, which becomes a key element in the development of the story.

The main character, Friar Vincenc, naively believes in the justice of the Pope and the Christian authorities, which leads him to conflict with Dubrovnik politics and, in the end, to personal tragedy and falling into slavery. Through his fate, the author explores the themes of ideals, betrayal and moral dilemmas. Historical figures such as the historian Ludovik Crijević Tuberon and the poet Ivan Gučetić (Gozza) also appear in the novel, which further enriches the historical context of the work.

Šehović uses postmodernist literary techniques, such as "found manuscripts" and fictitious chronicles, creating a work that is both a historical novel and an allegory for contemporary events. With this approach, the author ranks among the founders of the new historical novel in Croatian literature. The Bitter Taste of the Soul offers an in-depth analysis of human nature and historical circumstances, providing the reader with an insight into the complexity of moral decisions and the consequences they carry.