 Both "Moartea unei republici roșii" and "1916" were found especially offensive by George Călinescu.In his synthesis of literary history (first published in 1941), he argued that Aderca was in effect "glorifying [...] desertion".He described "1916" as being ruined by its pacifist agenda, and a "manifesto" serving to "flog virtues"; still, he reserved praise for the "somber and dramatic" manner in which Aderca chose to render the war scenes.