The time in the novel - Ivan The First"s board (Kalita"s) (1325-1340), the grand duke who has laid the foundation for the future power of the Moscow kingdom. Balashov makes it possible to show convincingly that the history not only becomes people, but itself consists of these people. We see, how wish for life is being realised in all people and its representatives, accepts original cultural forms. Before us there pass people of different destinies and the characters, representing all layers of the Moscow Russia, speaking live and extremely picturesque language.