Walter Scott is the author of very popular historical novels, the founder of the genre of "historical novel" in England. In his late novel, Walter Scott examines the confrontation between two civilizations Eastern and Western, or rather Western knights of the First Crusade and Byzantium. The Christian faith of the Greek Empire in the description of the author is pedantic and formal rites, which in reality are unbelief. This unbelief is contrasted with the fervent faith of the Crusader Knights. All these Normans and Greeks are opposed by the "honest and sensible" Varangian and mercenary Hirvard, who has common features with the other main characters of the great novelist.