The lives of the abandoned Serafima Korzukhina, the university professor Sergei Golubkov and the White generals Charnota and Khludov are closely intertwined.

Written in 1927, the play was rehearsed but never allowed to be performed during Bulgakov's lifetime, as the authorities felt that it glorified the Whites.

The play's English premiere was at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in 1972, directed by Val May.

In 1972 Valentin Bibik composed the opera Flight, op.12/45, based on the play.

Final 1996 version of the opera was premiered in 2010 in Kyiv Philharmonic hall under conductor Roman Kofman.