German writer Lou Andreas-Salome (Louise Gustavovna von Salome, 1861–1937), who was born and spent her childhood and youth in Russia, thanks to her extraordinary mind, brilliant erudition and friendly connections with the brightest creative personalities of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - F. Nietzsche , F. Wedekind, G. Hauptmann, R. M. Rilke, Z. Freud and many others, played a noticeable role in the spiritual life of Europe. The memoirs “Live and Experienced” are full of interesting facts from her biography. The one-volume book also includes the story “Birthmark” ", filled with deep experiences of Russia and giving an idea of the role of the first Motherland in the creative development of the writer.