Portrays lives of the Polish gentry in the Niemen valley after the collapse of the Insurrection of 1864. Under the harsh policy of the Russian tsar, Polish patriots fight to survive and safeguard the fatherland. Several human dramas are played out: Benedykt Kurczynski is in conflict with his neighbors, his wife and his son. Justyna Orzelska becomes increasingly aware of the emptiness of her life. Teofil Rozyc loses his estate and becomes a drug addict. Mrs. Andrzejowa experiences a personal tragedy because of her ungrateful son. Marta Korczynska cannot escape the demons of past. Despite these dramas, the novel as a whole is optimistic and manages to bring happiness to the many character's struggles.

Portrays lives of the Polish gentry in the Niemen valley after the collapse of the Insurrection of 1864. Under the harsh policy of the Russian tsar, Polish patriots fight to survive and safeguard the fatherland. Several human dramas are played out: Benedykt Kurczynski is in conflict with his neighbors, his wife and his son. Justyna Orzelska becomes increasingly aware of the emptiness of her life. Teofil Rozyc loses his estate and becomes a drug addict. Mrs. Andrzejowa experiences a personal tragedy because of her ungrateful son. Marta Korczynska cannot escape the demons of past. Despite these dramas, the novel as a whole is optimistic and manages to bring happiness to the many character's struggles.