The novel is set against the backdrop of the Caucasian Wars between Tsarist Russia and the Chechen and Muslim mountaineer fighters in the 19th century. Its hero is Hadji Murad, a brave and formidable leader who was initially one of Imam Shamil's (leader of the Chechen resistance) men. However, a dispute arose between them, forcing him to defect, leaving him torn between two camps: the Russians, whom he does not fully trust, and the Mujahideen, who consider him a traitor. The novel follows his struggle between loyalty to himself and his desire to protect his family on one hand, and the mill of politics and war on the other. His fate ends tragically, as he falls victim to this complex conflict.