Pustinjakov pupak

"The Hermit's Navel", published in 1974, is one of the early and extremely memorable novels by the famous Croatian writer Hrvoje Hitrec. Although the author is best known to the general public for the children's series "Smogovci", with this work he confirmed himself as a skilled master of social satire, grotesque and political-cultural parody intended for an adult reading audience. The novel's plot is set in a specific, surreal-bureaucratic milieu and follows an anti-hero who tries to find his way in a network of absurd social rules, institutions and human flaws. Hitrec uses the technique of grotesque hyperbole to depict the alienation of the individual in contemporary society, deconstruct the petty-bourgeois mentality and speak about the hypocrisy and conformism that permeate everyday life. The title motif of "the hermit's navel" carries layered symbolism - it denotes self-centeredness, passivity and absurd isolation in a world that demands action. Stylistically, the novel abounds in fast dynamics, witty and sharp dialogue sections, black humor, and ironic distancing from reality. Hitrec skillfully combines elements of trivial literature, crime fiction, and philosophical satire, creating a read that is both entertaining and critically oriented towards the social deviations of his time. "The Hermit's Navel" remains an important example of Croatian prose of the 1970s, which boldly explored the boundaries of the comic and the absurd.