: The story portrays the harsh realities of a "small-town" environment. It critiques the social structures that marginalize individuals, particularly a disabled woman like Tonka, who is defined by her isolation and her singular, unrequited love.
The title "" (My Only Love) most prominently refers to the 1931 novella Tonkina jedina ljubav by the Croatian writer August Cesarec . This work is a cornerstone of Croatian social realism and expressionism, focusing on the tragic life of a disabled woman in a small town.
Tonkina jedina ljubav (1931) serves as a pivotal bridge in Croatian literature between the avant-garde experiments of the 1920s and the social realism that dominated the 1930s. Written by August Cesarec (1893–1941), a prominent publicist and writer, the novella explores the internal psychological state of its protagonist, Tonka, against the backdrop of a rigid, often cruel provincial society. Author Background: August Cesarec