He pursued his interests at the Imperial Moscow University but, after graduating in 1915, failed the state examinations.

He fled Moscow following the Kornilov affair and settled in Ivanovo, where he provided support to the October Revolution.

In 1918, he joined the Russian Communist Party (b) and managed propaganda for the Yaroslavl Military District [ru].

While there, his wife had an affair with Commander Vasily Chapayev, which resulted in him being transferred to the Turkestan Front.

It was translated into English by George and Jeanette Kittell and issued by Foreign Languages Publishing House in 1940.