About the book: 1987 / For the first time - New World, 1928, No. 9, p. 207–213. P. E. Shchegolev, who was always interested in the work and personality of the great Russian writer, dedicated to him, in addition to these memoirs, two more articles: “The Popularity of Tolstoy” (Bulletin and Library of Self-Education, 1904, No. 4) and “Blonde” in Yasnaya Polyana in 1910 year" (Byloe, 1917, No. 3 (25)), later reprinted in his book "Guards and Adventurers" (M., 1930). A collection of selected works by P. E. Shchegolev characterizes his historical and literary views, social position. This is the first time that the researcher’s work has been published in such a composition. The compiler sought to present the peculiarity of Shchegolev’s creative method as a synthesis of literary and historical research, the formation of a research problem in his work - “Russian literature and the liberation movement.” All material is presented in two sections: the first section contains articles, dedicated to the “first revolutionary” A. N. Radishchev, the “first Decembrist” V. F. Raevsky, A. S. Griboyedov and his role in the Decembrist movement, A. A. Delvig, and memories of L. N. Tolstoy. The second section contains articles devoted to A.S. Pushkin and his role in the liberation movement. It should be noted right away that this set of articles by no means exhausts the entire creative heritage of P. E. Shchegolev on these issues. This collection did not include the researcher’s works dedicated to N.V. Gogol, V.G. Belinsky, I.S. Turgenev, etc. When including the article “The Return of the Decembrist” in the book, it was possible to use only the publication from it “Memoirs of V. F. Raevsky", which were in the possession of P.E. Shchegolev, and whose whereabouts have not now been established. All articles are published according to the text of the researcher’s last lifetime publications (with the exception of the articles “The Green Lamp” and “On the History of the Pushkin Masonic Lodge”) and the main sources are the works of P. E. Shchegolev ("Historical Studies". St. Petersburg, 1913; "Decembrists". M.-L., 1926; "From the life and work of Pushkin". 3rd ed., revised and supplemented. M .-L., 1931). In order to bring the bibliographic description closer to modern publishing requirements and at the same time trying to preserve the author's manner of presenting the material, it was decided, in a number of cases, to introduce editorial and author clarifications, enclosing them in square brackets. In all other cases, a modern bibliographic description is given in the text of the comments. When published without reservation, obvious clerical errors and typos were corrected. Words and headings that supplement the text are enclosed in angle brackets. Spelling and punctuation have been brought into line with modern standards; The exception is the texts of published documents. The cuts made at one time by P. E. Shchegolev, most often for censorship and editorial reasons, are restored in angle brackets. All quotes from Pushkin’s works and letters are given according to the edition: A. S. Pushkin. Complete Works (USSR Academy of Sciences). T. I–XVI, 1937–1949, and t. XVII (reference), 1959; vol. II, III, VIII, IX - each in two books - 1, 2; when referenced in the text, the volume (Roman numeral) and page (Arabic) are given. For the first time, translations of foreign language texts have been made; When translating Pushkin's texts, the academic edition of the poet's works was used.