`Casanova, Stendhal, Tolstoy - wrote S. Zweig, introducing readers to this book, - I know that the comparison of these three names sounds more unexpected than convincing, and it is difficult to imagine the plane where the dissolute, immoral swindler... Casanova meets such a heroic champion of morality and a perfect depicter, like Tolstoy. In reality... these three names symbolize three levels - one higher than the other... within the same creative function: self-image.