A novel by a popular prose writer offers an inside look into an era now called the Petrine age, based on fascinating historical material filled with lesser-known facts. Peter I is portrayed as a figure on a global, all-European scale, performing deeds aimed at a great goal—deeds that shaped the fate of the country. However, for the author it is more important to reveal the inner character of the emperor: he studies in detail Peter I’s personal qualities, reflects on the turning points of his spiritual life, and brings to light the dramatic pages of his personal biography, including family and love. D. Granin’s work is unusual in form and significant in content; it is written in a vivid, imaginative language, with deep respect for the main hero.