The memoirs of A. G. Barmin (1899–1987), a “defector” diplomat, for many years were among the main sources for foreign researchers of the Soviet period of the 20–30s. As for domestic historians, especially the mass reader, this book was simply inaccessible to them, since its translation into Russian did not exist until now. The reason for this lies in the fact that the author’s name could not be pronounced out loud, since he had headed the Russian service of the Voice of America radio station since the mid-40s. Meanwhile, A. G. Barmin’s book is of undoubted interest. The author, an active participant in the Civil War, one of the first painters with an academic education, nurtured, like many other leaders of the revolution, by L. D. Trotsky, was completely devoted to him. The book presents a wide gallery of diplomatic and economic workers, prominent military leaders who became “enemies of the people” in the fateful 30s. The tense atmosphere of those years, the painful struggle of people between duty and fear of reprisals, is also well conveyed.