Soviet historian Mikhail Gefter (1918–1995), deprived of the opportunity to work in his profession, created his personal style of Socratic historical writing. Since 1970, having become unpublished, Gefter switched to the rhythm of conversations and dialogues with friends. They were based on oral investigations of events and analysis of historical forks with their alternative options. The book includes conversations between Gleb Pavlovsky and Mikhail Gefter in 1993, when the historian, who was a member of the Presidential Council, left after the October executions. Conversations are devoted to current events and characters, philosophy of history and political action, the theme of Russian revolutions, the Soviet empire and civilization.