The play follows Martin Borulya, a prosperous farmer who becomes obsessed with proving his "noble" ancestry. He spends years and a fortune on bureaucratic red tape, bribes, and lawsuits to be officially recognized as a nobleman. His tragedy (and the source of the play's comedy) is that he values a piece of paper more than his actual character or his family’s happiness.

: For English readers, a new translation titled Martin Borulya: A 19th-Century Ukrainian Satirical Classic can be found on Amazon. Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Martin Borulya. The Master. One Hundred Thousand

If you are looking to read the work, several editions are available in digital and physical formats: