The book was written in 1907–at a time of a horrific political reaction to enormous changes in Russian society (democratic activities, first democratically elected Duma in 1906, as well as the Russian Revolution of 1905). Russian society was heavily influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church and to lesser extent Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, none of which condoned an open expression of sexuality.
The book was written in 1907, during a period marked by political reaction (democratic activities, first democratically elected Duma in 1906, and the Russian Revolution of 1905) to significant societal changes in Russia. Russian society was influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church and to a lesser extent by Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, none of which supported an open expression of sexuality.