From the very moment it was published, the novel was received with delight by the reading public—from the royal family to literate peasants. The success of the novel proved lasting. The everyday life of the people in the smallest details, their beliefs where paganism and Christianity intertwine, rituals, lyrical and spiritual songs, crafts and trades with their terminology and sayings—all is described in P. I. Melnikov’s vivid speech, so the reader is never left indifferent. All of Melnikov’s life experience, countless personal observations, knowledge of the history of his native region, and heartfelt sympathy for the beloved heroes—all of this fused into the best novel by Melnikov.