Mstislavsky (Maslovsky) Sergei Dmitrievich. The book is truly rare - the Russian army of the pre-revolutionary and revolutionary times, that is, the first two decades of the outgoing century, is presented with humor, sometimes satirically, but also with great pain about what was destroyed and gone. […] In the stories of S. Mstislavsky about the pre-war life of officers of the Russian army, one can feel the atmosphere of spiritual degradation that envelops any army in peacetime: after all, the army is being prepared for war, and peace, as a rule, has a relaxing effect on it. It is quite understandable that at the front, officers, being traditionally fenced off from the mass of soldiers, continue to drink, gamble and even loot (especially senior officers). […] Comparing times long past with today, we are surprised to discover how many similarities there are in the circumstances and trends in the life of the present army. Loss of prestige, a clear goal of development, insecurity and abandonment of the army can lead to disaster. Every military man, and even just a citizen, must draw conclusions for himself and look for ways to overcome the impending collapse.