The name of Alexander Yakovlevich Tairov (1885–1950) is known to everyone who is familiar with the history of Russian theatrical art. This outstanding director rejected both the life-likeness of realistic theater and the abstraction of conventional theater, opposing them to “synthetic theater” that combines words, music, dance, and circus. Tairov tried to implement his ideas in the Chamber Theater he founded, praising the beauty of man and the strength of his feelings in the range from tragedy to buffoonery. Tairov’s creative and personal union with the great actress Alisa Koonen gave rise to the best performances of the Chamber, but there was no unanimity in their assessment - the director was reproached for aestheticism, Westernism, and an arrogant attitude towards the audience. As a result, the theater was closed in 1949, which soon led to the illness and death of its founder. The first biography of Tairov in the ZhZL series is unusual - it is a documentary novel about the director, created by his fellow craftsman, director and writer Mikhail Levitin. The author of the book explores not only Tairov’s dramatic life path, but also his creative heritage, which deeply influenced modern theater.