Samyy istoricheski dostovernyy i dramatichnyy roman Gyugo, slovno nayavu perenosyaschiy chitatelya to v buynyy, kipuchiy revolyutsionnyy Parizh, to v myatezhnuyu bretonskuyu Vandeyu, gde royalistskie partizany-shuany pre-vratili kazhdyy les, log i boloto v smertelnuyu lovushku dlya frantsuzskih soldat.
Imenno v Vandee razvorachivaetsya zahvatyvayuschaya istoriya prinyavshego komandovanie nad shuanami markiza de Lantenaka, ego vnuka i ofitsera-respublikantsa, yunogo idealista Govena i nastavnika i prakticheski ottsa osirotevshego yunoshi - fanatichnogo komissara Simurdena. . .
