Papp's first prose work, Kára plná bolesti, appeared when he was already a man of 40. It was appropriately described by critics as a compromise with Lyrical Prose. The author depicts a social problem of considerable gravity using the form of a lyrical ballad with only minor elements of actualisation. This resulted in shortcomings and controversial points in Papp's work and it affected the author's approach to the reality reflected, which oscillates between a social critical attitude and a "poetic" depiction of the depth and strength of human life.