“The word is given to teachers not to lull their own thoughts, but to awaken someone else’s” - this aphorism of the outstanding Russian historian Vasily Osipovich Klyuchevsky expressed his own scientific credo. Klyuchevsky was a wonderful lecturer: the precision of his formulations, the richness of his intonation, and the laconicism of his definitions fascinated the students. Lithographs of his lectures were literally read by students until they were full of holes. “Historical Portraits” by V.O. Klyuchevsky are brilliant characteristics of Russian princes, monarchs, chroniclers, clergy, generals, diplomats, saints, cultural figures. The publication is based on the famous lecture “Course of Russian history", which has been demonstrating scientific depth and artistic power for more than a century, confirms its enduring value, and amazes with its novelty and relevance.