The image of a man of strong spirit always occupies an important place in Leskov’s work. His hero is in an eternal search for the truth. Ivan Flyagin—first becomes free from serfdom, and later takes monastic vows. He loves horses. For years he was a horse-handler, taming even the most unyielding horses. The passion and artistry of his nature are revealed in noble and heroic deeds, and sometimes in wild bouts of drunkenness and cruelties. In the search for beauty in this life, he lived a life rich in events and achieved wisdom.