The epic novel “Gentlemen Officers” (“They Were and They Were Not”) occupies a special place in the work of Boris Vasiliev, who himself was from a hereditary family of officers and has repeatedly emphasized that his ancestors always fought. The novel takes place in the 1870s in Russia and the Balkans. At the center of the story is the life of the large noble family of the Oleksins. The fate of the main characters is closely intertwined with the grandiose events of the past. Maintaining honor, conscience and dignity, the Oleksins go through severe trials, they are faced with the death of friends and loved ones, the loss of illusions and the search for the truth... The work of Boris Vasiliev is recognized as a classic of Russian literature, his books have been translated into many languages, famous and beloved by many generations have been based on Vasiliev’s works. films: “Officers”, “The Dawns Here Are Quiet”, “Don’t Shoot White Swans”, “Tomorrow There Was War”, etc.