The book tells about people who lived in an era of historical cataclysms, wars and revolutions, changes in political formations. The generation of the Kazakh intelligentsia responded to the historical challenge facing the Kazakhs at a turning point in history. These are people born at the end of the 19th century, educated in different countries and united by the idea of overcoming colonial dependence on the Russian Empire.

The author aims to form a holistic view of a galaxy of outstanding personalities who, in an important historical period, were able to take responsibility for the people and their future. The history of the country is perceived through the prism of their destinies, views, activities and death.

The material of the book is a biographical sketch and covers the history of Kazakhstan in the first third of the twentieth century, until the period of the Great Terror (19371938).

Chapter 1: Preface.- Chapter 2: Era portrait.- Chapter 3: Opponent of the Stolypin reform. Barlybek Syrtanov (18661914).- Chapter 4: Defender of the territory. Alikhan Bukeikhanov (18701937).- Chapter 5: From Court Counselor to People's Commissar of the Kazakh ASSR. Akhmet Beremzhanov (18711927).- Chapter 6: An educator who dreamed of leading the people to freedom through education. Akhmet Baitursynov (18731938).- Chapter 7: Witness to resettlement policy. Satylgan Sabataev (18741921).- Chapter 8: «We are ready to defend our freedom with arms in hand». Zhakyp Akbaev (18761934).- Chapter 9: Innocent and not admitted his guilt. Aidarkhan Turlybaev (18771937).- Chapter 10: To protect the people with the law, pen and weapon in hand. Raimzhan Marsekov (1877194?).- Chapter 11: Road builder and defender of the 1916 rebels. Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpayev (18791937).- Chapter 12: Bringing democracy closer. Validkhan Tanachev (18821968).- Chapter 13: A teacher who took up a weapon. Otynshy Alzhanov (18831918).- Chapter 14: He dreamed that one day his country would become a second Japan. Khalel Dosmukhamedov (18831939).- Chapter 15: Translator for the military governor of Zhetysu. Ibrahim Dzhainakov (1883194?).- Chapter 16: The poet who awakened the Kazakhs. Myrzhakyp Dulatov (18851935).- Chapter 17: Executed for serving the ideas of Alash. Imammazum Alimbekov (18851937).- Chapter 18: Dreamed of transferring power to the people. Zhakhansha Dosmukhamedov (18871938).- Chapter 19: The negotiator with Stalin. Khalel Gabbasov (18881931).- Chapter 20: Confrontation of literatures. Zhusipbek Aimauytov (18891931).- Chapter 21: Doctor in extreme conditions. Baktygali Beisenov (18891938).- Chapter 22: Creator of the Alash hundreds. Sadyk Amanzholov (18891941).- Chapter 23: Continuing the fight alone. Mustafa Shokay (18901941).- Chapter 24: Deprived of theright to serve his people. Zhumakhan Kuderin (18911938).- Chapter 25: Defended the borders of Kazakhstan. Alimkhan Ermekov (18911970).- Chapter 26: Dreamed of enlightening the people. Seit-Battal Mustafin (18921937).- Chapter 27: Suffered for sincerity. Magzhan Zhumabaev (18931938).- Chapter 28: Saved hundreds of lives and gave his own. Asylbek Seitov (18941937).- Chapter 29: Deprived of the created heritage. Koshmukhambet Kemengerov (18961937).- Chapter 30: Twice sentenced to death and twice exonerated. Gazymbek Beremzhanov (18961938).- Chapter 31: Crisis manager and Kazakh oil explorer. Berkingali Atshybaev (18971937?).- Chapter 32: Steppe philanthropist. Khasen Akayev (18571931).- Chapter 33: Conclusion.