St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most amazing buildings in the world. Its construction lasted forty years (from 1818 to 1858). During this time, the Russian Empire was shocked by riots, natural disasters and epidemics, but at the cost of many victims and despite the most difficult trials, the main Cathedral of the country was built and consecrated. Irina Izmailova's novel in a fascinating way tells the detailed story of the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral, as well as a biography of his brilliant architect Auguste de Montferrand, whose life, full of incredible adventures can overshadow the best pages of Alexander Dumas books. Like the cathedral from Ken Follett's novel Pillars of the Earth, St. Isaac's Cathedral is here the soul of the whole work and serves as a kind of background for the story of love and passion, betrayal and loyalty, a story in which the fates of many people intertwine. But first of all, "Cathedral" is a novel about a genius who can overcome all obstacles on the way to his divine goal.