John Steinbeck, having read Yevtushenko’s “Premature Autobiography” in 1964, which was mockingly criticized by official Soviet criticism, told the author that he really benefited from the chapter on Stalin’s funeral, and playfully predicted Yevtushenko that in the encyclopedias of the 21st century he would be called famous a novelist who began in the 20th century as a poet. Yevtushenko’s first prose was highly appreciated by such a master as Kataev. The novel “Berry Places” at one time instantly sold two million copies in the Roman-Gazeta. The stories “Ardabiola” and “We try harder” are published separately for the first time. Will Steinbeck's prediction come true?