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Stories such as “Under the Mountain”, “The Snake”, “The Real Man”, “Privor”, “In the Snow and the Ice”, “Soils, Mother!” and “The Greek Fiddle” depict characters with strong moral principles, deeply rooted in tradition, faith and nature.

Budak uses a realistic style with elements of folk speech to faithfully depict the Lika landscape and the life circumstances of his characters. Themes such as the struggle for survival, the conflict between the individual and the community, and the relationship to nature and the supernatural, permeate the entire collection. The characters are often faced with moral dilemmas that test their honesty and loyalty to traditional values.

The collection reflects Budak’s desire to preserve and affirm the Lika identity through literature. Although the author’s political role in later life was controversial, “Under the Mountain” remains a significant work of Croatian literature due to its ethnographic value and literary quality.