Dmitry Vasilyevich Grigorovich (1822 - 12/22/1899 (01/03/1900) - an outstanding Russian writer, author of numerous works that magnificently depict peasant life in the mid-19th century. Published in 1853, the novel is entirely dedicated to the people. It tells the story of the death of the peasant community under the onslaught of progress and capitalism. In the peasant, free from serfdom, the author sees the true living forces of the nation, the guarantee of its future successful development. At the same time, he believes that the village can only exist by remaining faithful to the patriarchal foundations.