This novel by the famous writer, Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel relates the fate of one Jewish poet, who from the faith of his ancestors has turned to the faith in communist ideals and now lives his last years in the soviet prison while battle against cosmopolitanism is in full play. Despite being rather vulnerable and neurotic he survives all the tortures and betrays noone, astonishing tough executors with his bravery. Nevertheless the investigator finds the way to make the prisoner talk - he suggests that the poet should write his memoires.