Nikolai Semenovich Tikhonov (December 4, 1896 - February 8, 1979) - Russian Soviet poet, prose writer and publicist, public figure. Hero of Socialist Labor (1966). Laureate of the International Lenin "For Strengthening Peace between Peoples" (1957), Lenin (1970) and three Stalin Prizes of the first degree (1942, 1949, 1952). In the book, the author talks about courageous and persistent people who have passed the harsh test with honor - the blockade of their hometown.