A century of political turmoil, military upheaval, cultural ferment, and Great Men, ultimately people of the 19th century call it The Century of Progress. Armies more massive than ever before march across continents and groups of refugees more numerous than ever before leave their homes, many losing loved ones. Some ancient values may change, perhaps disappear, some ancient evils may survive, perhaps thrive. Russians eye lands around the Black Sea, and enviable peace reigns in the Holy Land.
A Russian boy named Fyodor tries to make sense of his life in his village and of the larger world in that progressing century as he grows into young manhood, middle age, and older. He tries to maintain dedication to family, community, humor, and conscience. Fyodor suspects the greatest challenge a person has in life is to believe in the goodness of life but he struggles against mere blind faith in that goodness and against the heavy if not intolerable burden of the alternative.
And who is following him?
