“Proskurin is a writer of the old school and he did not change its principles until the end of his life. This school was distinguished by its nobility of writing and presentation; the desire for harmony, for a deep understanding of the world, life, man... The framework of “socideology” and “socialist realism”, of course, fettered artists; but honest writers always, under any system and government, had the opportunity to save their gift. This opportunity is an appeal to the destinies of Russia and one’s people... And then came other, uncensored times, times of freedom and temptations - to sell one’s gift at a higher price. Momentary – TV fame or eternal – involvement in the fate of the people?! Pyotr Proskurin, as his novel “The Number of the Beast” shows, chose the latter…” (M. Solntseva). “The Number of the Beast” is the writer’s last novel. Published in Roman-Gazeta (No. 1.2 1999) and in the series “Leaders in Novels” - “Brezhnev”. At the center of the adventurous plot of P.L. Proskurin’s novel “The Number of the Beast” is the romantic story of the relationship between the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee and the famous actresses.