Lev Tolstoy’s novella is a literary and journalistic rethinking of a tragedy that unfolded in the Caucasus.
Works by L.N. Tolstoy about the Caucasus were created not only by a witness to the Caucasian War, but also by a participant. They combine artistic power with journalistic precision, which is why they are perceived as a significant historical document reflecting the drama of what was taking place. Later, Tolstoy wrote about the impact the Caucasus had on his fate and creativity: «…This was both a tormenting and a good time. Never, neither before nor after, did I reach such a height of thought as in that time… And everything I found then will forever remain my conviction.»