Alexander Konstantinovich Gladkov (1912–1976), a famous playwright and memoirist, became famous primarily as the author of the play “A Long Time Ago” (1941) about the heroic events of 1812, which was later based on the famous film “The Hussar Ballad” by E. Ryazanov "(1962). While still a very young man, Gladkov headed the literary part of Vsevolod Meyerhold’s experimental theater, talked with him for a long time, recorded these conversations in detail, and was the Master’s confidant. Later he wrote a book that became a classic of the memoir genre, “Five Years with Meyerhold.” His memories of Boris Pasternak, Ilya Erenburg, Yuri Olesha, Konstantin Paustovsky, and the literary and theatrical life of the 1930s–1960s are just as vivid, emotional, and significant. Compilation, introductory article, comments by Art. Nikonenko. Serial design by Konstantin Gureev Artist Aida Sidorenko The book uses rare photographic materials from the archive of A. Gladkov, provided by the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art. The publishing house also thanks the Russian State Library for Art and the State Film Fund for assistance in selecting photographic materials. On the frontispiece there is a photograph of Alexander Gladkov. 1950