Былое и думы

Alexander Ivanovich Herzen (Iskander), a writer, thinker, revolutionary, scientist, publicist, founder of Russian uncensored book printing, and founder of political emigration in Russia, spent almost sixteen years working on his main work, the autobiographical novel Past and Thoughts. The author himself called this book a confession, "about which gathered here and there stopped thoughts from thoughts." But in reality, Herzen, having shown artistic talent, depth of thought, subtle psychological analysis, created a real encyclopedia reflecting the life, customs, social, literary and political life of Russia in the middle of the 19th century.
The novel "The Past and Thoughts" - a mirror of the life of a person and society - is recognized as a masterpiece of world memoir literature.