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The novel Blue Notebook by Emanuil Kazakevich depicts the period before the October Revolution of 1917 and focuses on the character of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin during his stay in hiding in Finland. Lenin hides from the tsarist government, but at the same time he thinks intensively about the political situation in Russia and prepares plans for a revolutionary upheaval.

The central part of the novel depicts Lenin's daily life in exile: conversations with revolutionary collaborators, studying political events and writing notes that will help him shape future decisions. The title of the work is related to the blue notebook in which Lenin writes down his thoughts, ideas and conclusions about social changes.

Kazakevich portrays Lenin as a determined, educated and persistent leader who believes in the necessity of revolution. Through his conversations with other characters, the author shows the conflicts within the revolutionary movement, different opinions on the way of fighting and the uncertainty of the time when the future of Russia is being decided.

The novel combines historical events and literary treatment, emphasizing the role of the individual in major social changes. The main themes of the work are revolution, political struggle, the responsibility of the leader, and the relationship between personal beliefs and historical circumstances. Kazakevich depicts the moment before a great upheaval, when old social structures are crumbling and a new ideology is trying to find its way.