It is defined as fiction according to the internet, yet the author insists that while the dialogue is fictional (but, according to him and somewhat confusingly, most dedicated to a realistic portrayal of the people they portray), the account told otherwise is entirely rooted in the accounts and stories he accumulated during his time in the Crimea, both from direct survivors of the events as well as ancestors.

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How rooted is this book in reality? I can't figure it out for the life of me and I would really appreciate some input. While it's an interesting read, I would very much like to know how realistic it actually is.