Before you there is a chronicle of the last peaceful year on the eve of First world war, the great number of events becoming a sign for the culture of the XX century happened in that. In 1913 the novel of Proust went out "Towards Свану", Шпенглер began to work on "Sunset of Europe", the scandalous parisian premiere of ballet took place "Spring is sacred" Stravinsky and concert of dodecaphonic music of Schoenberg, the first version of the "Black square" of Малевича was written, the first boutique was opened "Прада", Lewie Armstrong took a pipe in hands, Stalin arrived illegally to Vienna, and Hitler her, vice versa. abandoned. An author, German critic and essayist, changing during the last crisis job from a newspaper to the auction house, and circle of interests, - from sharp topical interest to the old art, created the увлекательнейшую panorama of the animated cultural life of times of birth of modernism. In the press a book was named "enormous тизером" XX century and by a living reminder about that, as appeared given, appeared fragile, even defenceless.