S. Maksimov’s book “Penal servitude of the Empire” still amazes with the completeness and reliability of the information it contains. The author abundantly intersperses the story about the history of Russian penal servitude with exciting stories from the life of its inhabitants. Images of criminals of all stripes, tramps, bribe-takers from among the police will stun the reader. But even in the midst of vice, Maksimov sees a Russian man, unsophisticated in his soul. The first edition of “Siberia” was published in a circulation of 500 copies for distribution only among senior officials. In Soviet times, the book was not published at all. For the first time in many years, this unique text is published in full, with illustrations and valuable additions from the writer’s archive.