In the landscape of Soviet literature, Trifonov's works stand out for their acute exploration of urban life, particularly the complexities and disappointments that accompany middle age. His narratives delve into the intricacies of everyday existence, exposing the underlying tensions within family and work dynamics. Prominent among his thematically linked works is The House on the Embankment, which sits alongside the novellas collected in Dolgoe proshchanie (1973; The Long Goodbye: Three Novellas, 1978). This collection includes Obmen (1969; The Exchange, 1973), Prevaritalnye itogi (1970; Taking Stock, 1978), and the title novella Dolgoe proshchanie (1971; The Long Goodbye, 1978). Complementing these is Drugaya zhizn (1975; Another Life, 1983), each contributing to a broader narrative that challenges the framework of Socialist Realism.

Unlike the typical Socialist Realism, which idealizes a self-sacrificing and optimistic hero guided by an omniscient narrator and buoyed by an inspirational theme aligned with the party line, Trifonov’s work is best described as anti-Socialist Realism. His stories focus on byt, or the minutiae of daily life. This emphasis on ordinary life's "trivia" is a hallmark of Trifonov’s narratives and significantly contributed to his popularity in the Soviet Union. Through his detailed portrayal of mundane realities, Trifonov provides a starkly realistic counter-narrative to the idealized visions often propagated by official Soviet ideology.

Trifonov's early career saw the publication of short stories and his first novel, Studenty (1950; Students, 1953), which earned him the prestigious Stalin Prize. As his literary journey progressed, he continued to delve deeper into the themes of confronting the past, as exemplified in his later novel, Starik (1978; The Old Man, 1984), a work that some regard as his crowning achievement. By examining personal and historical memory's role in shaping present identity, Trifonov’s writing offers a compelling critique of Soviet society and the human condition.