The book itself (ie. Nadezhda Durova) is exceptionally well-written. It provides readers with a fairly in-depth view of cavalry life in the Russian Army, and from a unique woman's view. Mary Fleming Zirin, the translator, did a superb job with this book. Her research is outstanding, and she is able to translate certain words, and explain different Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish idioms in a way that readers can thoroughly understand.