The collection of memoir essays by the famous Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian literary critic tells about the people with whom he had the opportunity to communicate over more than half a century of his scientific activity. Among them are such classics of modern philology as D.S. Likhachev, M.P. Alekseev, D.D. Blagoy, B.F. Egorov, N.N. Stingrays; scientists with whom he had particularly long and close relationships, such as M.L. Gasparov, V.E. Vatsuro, G. M. Friedlander, A. A. Anikst, E. G. Etkind. The author shares his memories of the support and help he received from his colleagues, and the obstacles that were put in his way, and the discrimination to which he was subjected. The published letters document the veracity of the coverage of the events described.