Caucasian story. Tolstoy’s attraction to folk themes and broad epics already matured in the story “Cossacks” (1853-63). In the Caucasus, among the majestic nature and simple, pure-hearted people, the hero of the story is more fully aware of the falsehood of secular society and renounces the lies in which he lived before. For T., the criterion for the truth of social behavior is the nature and consciousness of a person close to nature, almost merging with it.