The zealously religious Ivan Ivanovich imagines he has a rivalry with Silovoy, a prominent citizen of "Holy Town." When Ivan discovers evidence of an embarrassing past, he attempts to abase Silovoy in the eyes of his fellow citizens. Convinced he has God's approval, Ivan is willing to do anything it takes to achieve his aims, even if it means going against the fundamental teachings of his religion. The array of characters in this work present a fascinating exploration of religious ideas and philosophies, the consciousness of the human mind, mankind's search for meaning and wholeness, and other questions of the soul. In addition to the author's original philosophical concepts, the ideas of Jung, Plato, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, and others are examined.
