Alexei Tolstoy’s writing is primarily focused on the personalities and destinies of his characters caught in the turmoil of historical events. In particular, his trilogy The Ordeal traces the development of the Russian society during the critical years of WWI, the 1917 revolution and the civil war. The plot of the novel revolves around the destiny of the Bulavin sisters, Ekaterina and Dasha, and their history of love, joy, and suffering.