Russia is at the dawn of great changes and the fate of a young man, Pyotr Cherkasov, who was forced to sacrifice his personal happiness to save the Motherland. In the center of events are bright and interesting characters, whose personal life history is woven into the history of European life. The interweaving of love lines, betrayal, jealousy, intrigue, exposing the enemies of Russia and the world order. Napoleon Bonaparte hatches plans to take over all of Europe. One of the most terrible wars in national history is approaching. In the meantime, the Russian people live in peace and ignorance. With the arrival of Prince Kuragin, the life of Peter changes forever. Emperor Paul I needs the best people to help Russia unravel Napoleon's insidious plans, and Kuragin, seeing Cherkasov's talents, invites him to go to St. Petersburg for military service. Cherkasov agrees, and now his life belongs to the Motherland.

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.

The black room. Enclosed space. The action unfolds as if slowly. You understand that every word, every gesture of the heroes have a special, secret, as yet absolutely incomprehensible meaning. But you feel: you can't miss a single nuance. There are two or three heroes in each novel. There is a real drama between them, which ends with an explosion. Sometimes figuratively, and sometimes literally. Time is continuous: there is no yesterday and tomorrow.