In essence, this dystopia is a rewritten history of the Russian Empire of the XVIII–XIX centuries. The novel narrates the history of the city of Glupov, in which, over a relatively short time, 21 mayors were replaced. There is harsh satire aimed at prominent figures from history such as Anna Ioannovna, Anna Leopoldovna, Elizabeth Petrovna, Catherine II, Paul I, Alexander I, Speransky, Arakcheev, and others.