Alois Vogel's novel Refractions portrays life among the workers and farmers in the aftermath of the short but violent civil war in Austria in February 1934, when the deep-seated hostility between the Christian Social Party (Blacks) and the Social Democrats (Reds) erupted into armed conflict. The uprising was quelled after three days, but the pursuit and persecution of the Social Democrats continued, causing hardships and enmity that has never been forgotten.

This bitter political division between the parties was a major turning point in Austrian history and was one of the primary causes leading the country to annexation by Germany in 1938. The reader is shown that the situation did not have to become violent if politicians on both sides had shown more tolerance for different views. Vogel, a contemporary witness, builds tension in the novel through the technique of flashback and creates an accurate first-hand account of one of the most critical events in modern Austrian history.

In addition to its historical veracity, the novel also charms the reader through its basic humanitarian beliefs and attractive literary style.