The book focuses on all aspects of Limonov's life, emphasizing the literary and the political components, while not neglecting ethical issues and the biographer's personal views.

In Carrère's book, Limonov emerges as a subtle and loyal figure, prone to occasional violence and excess based on his many frustrations, be it political, creative or emotional.

The book is also a historical and sociological approach to 20th century Russia with its leaders and dissidents as it is a complex non-fiction narrative based on the life of a living person.

Carrère's testimony is based on a three-week period the author spent with Limonov in Moscow, after he briefly frequented him in the Paris of the 1980s.

[2] In 2022 it was announced that the novel will be adapted by Russian filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov, with Limonov to be played by English actor Ben Whishaw.