"Independent People" is the saga-like retelling of the life of an ordinary poor peasant, Byartur. As the author tells it, his labor for twenty years on a small plot of land is truly heroic β worthy of the heroes of ancient tales. Frequent mentions of old sagas, and the heroic poems skillfully woven into the narrative by the author, as well as separate episodes of the novel that make you remember folk epics β all of this creates an atmosphere of epic solemnity and high poetic spirit.