About the book: 2020 / In the first book of the novel “The Performer,” Alexander Maltsev, a student at the Leningrad Pedagogical Institute, was sent to Spain in 1938 as a personal translator for the Soviet military Advisor Bykov I.T. During the retreat of the Republican troops, Maltsev is “forgot” to evacuate, and he remains in the territory captured by units of General Franco’s army. Using the documents of his deceased friend Pablo Machado, Alexander manages to leave Spain and get to France, where he, together with other soldiers of the Republican Army, they are imprisoned in the Archeles concentration camp. Professional Soviet intelligence officer, NKVD officer, Yuri Vasilyevich Nekrasov receives an assignment from L.P. Beria himself. to form a reserve special group to eliminate Trotsky L.D. Nekrasov “figures out” Maltsev’s whereabouts and takes him out of the concentration camp to Paris. In the French capital, Maltsev is undergoing a special training course for an illegal intelligence officer. A few months later, he is ready, along with other members of the reserve group, to leave for Mexico. But the situation suddenly changes. By order of Beria, Maltsev is sent to Buenos Aires to strengthen the Soviet illegal station. Before leaving, Nekrasov gives Alexander $1,300 and the necessary instructions. In Bunos Aires, Maltsev becomes a successful businessman. He opens several car repair shops, a car wash and car dealerships, which bring in very good income. In addition, Alexander reveals the talent of an operative recruiter. He manages to recruit several agents who supply valuable information to Soviet intelligence agencies. Among them: a senior official of the Argentine Parliament, an employee of the Argentine Foreign Ministry and the personal driver of a high-ranking government official of this country. The information they supply concerns the activities of Hitler's intelligence on the territory of Argentina during the war, attempts to create by President Peron J.D. atomic bomb and the latest models of supersonic fighters in the late 40s and early 50s. In book 2 of the novel “The Performer,” the author also talks about the Argentine traditions and culture of that time. All the events described in the novel have a real basis, with the exception of the main character and his immediate circle. To write this novel, the author used a large amount of documentary literature, from which he took memoranda from the Argentine Foreign Ministry, memos from the commander of the Argentine Navy to the president of this country, etc..