The quiet life of the county town ended with the arrival of two young people from the capital, and what followed will remain in the memory of local residents for a long time. Intrigues and passions, meanness and nobility, love and death are closely intertwined in the life of an outwardly decent society.The outstanding Russian writer brought to the pages of his novel a number of famous and vivid characters who prepared the tragic events that happened in Russia in the 20th century through their activities.