fˈɔːɹwɚd hɐz mˈɛnʃənd ˌɔn ˈɑːnlaɪn fˈoːɹəmz ðætðɪ ˌɪnspɚɹˈeɪʃən fɚðə nˈɑːvəl wʌz hɪz lˈʌv ʌv ɹˈʌʃən nˈɑːvəlz, sˈʌtʃ ɐz ðoʊz baɪ tˈɑːlstɔɪ.
Forward has mentioned on online forums that the inspiration for the novel was his love of Russian novels, such as those by Tolstoy.