The reader is offered the memoirs of Vasily Alekseevich Maklakov (1869–1957) - a brilliant Russian lawyer, deep thinker, bright politician, outstanding literary critic and writer, one of the leaders of the Cadet Party, deputy of the II, III and IV State Duma. In a book of memoirs, published for the first time in 1954, during the lifetime of its author, Maklakov, discussing the causes of events in Russia, of which he had the opportunity to become a witness and participant, touches on such issues that have not lost their relevance today, such as the essence of democracy, the functions of a democratic state , the relationship between the state and the individual, the coordination in society of the interests of the majority and the minority, and many others. For lawyers, philosophers, historians, persons involved in state and public activities, students, graduate students and everyone interested in the history of state and law.