The work of Théophile Gautier (1811-1872), one of the outstanding classical writers of the 19th century, has so far been very sparingly represented in Russia (the novels “Captain Fracasse” and “Mademoiselle de Maupin”, the collection of poems “Enamels and Cameos” "). Meanwhile, the figure of the French romantic, the founder of the “Parnassian school,” attracted the close attention of many Russian writers and poets at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. (M. Voloshin, V. Bryusov, N. Gumilyov, A. Akhmatova, etc.). This volume covers five stories (the writer himself called them novels), created in the 1830-1840s. It is addressed to the reader who wants to overcome the somewhat one-sided perception of T. Gautier, to immerse himself in his diverse and paradoxical literary world, combining Byronic demonism, irony, Epicurean love of life, a flair of eroticism, sophisticated aestheticism and meticulous reproduction of historical and everyday details, “materialism” and fantasy. Tireless traveler (England, Belgium, Spain, Algeria, Italy, Malta, Constantinople, Greece, Russia...), art critic, theater reviewer, amazingly efficient journalist (“a proletarian of the pen,” in his own words), Gautier put all his rich experience into these stories. He boldly overcomes geographical and temporal boundaries, taking us from ancient semi-legendary Lydia (“King Candaules”) to contemporary France (“Innocent Libertines”) or Spain (“Militon”), from England in the 20s of the 19th century. to the island of St. Helena, where the great Napoleon dies in exile (“Two for Two”), from the salons of the Parisian demimonde to exotic India (in the story “Fortunio” the main character, a socialite, a passionless dandy and at the same time a rich heir to an Indian nabob, turns one of the central quarters of Paris into a fabulous oasis of oriental luxury - Eldorado, and in the end, disillusioned with “old Europe”, returns to India). Despite all the thematic diversity of the stories Gautier is primarily interested in the nature of human feelings. Being a true connoisseur and connoisseur of fine literature, he skillfully avoids hackneyed plots, trivial literary devices and moves. His heroes always find themselves in a situation of fatal choice that changes their lives once and for all. Thus, a battle-hardened warrior is unable to resist the dictates of his heart and humbly kneels before the captivating queen, and a brilliant courtesan, experienced in deceit, unexpectedly opens up a whole world of sublime feelings for which he sacrifices his life. The stories presented in this edition are not only entertaining stories about love, but also an extensive body of the most versatile knowledge that the 19th century had at its disposal. and which Gautier greedily absorbed - about history, science, architecture, painting, literature, fashion. To navigate this vast sea of information, as well as the subtle pattern of literary and cultural allusions, the reader will be helped by detailed notes and an article devoted to a little-known genre of the writer's work. A “painter of words” (as Sainte-Beuve aptly describes), Gautier is presented in this volume in worthy artistic frame: when designing the book, rare illustrations by bookmakers, engravers and lithographers of the 19th century were used.