The book was composed of two works different in genre and method of mastering the material, dedicated to one historical person - the most prominent figure of the white movement in Russia, Ataman of the Great Don Army A.M. Kaledin. The historical narrative of M. Astapenko "Ataman Kaledin" is actually the first most complete biography of the famous ataman. The play by E. Kornilov "The Last Day of Ataman Kaledin," as the name suggests, is dedicated to the moment of the tragic death of the hero. Based on this play in the Rostov Academic Drama Theater. M. Gorky in 1996 staged the play "I Have the Honor."