Why did the communists dislike this city so much, depriving it of its name and capital status? Why was Hitler going to wipe him off the face of the earth? Is it true that he is “built on bones” and “cursed from birth”? And will the old prophecy come true that “this place will be empty”? Petersburg - Petrograd - Leningrad - Petersburg. Adored and hated, stunningly beautiful and frighteningly ugly, imperial, mystical, sacred, incomprehensible, “the cradle of Russian freedom” and “the birthplace of three revolutions”, which changed its name three times, over three centuries of its history has seen and experienced so much that would be enough for three millennia ...The true history of the most European, mysterious and phenomenal city in Russia is in a new book by the most scandalous historian, who once again confirmed his reputation as the main “troublemaker.”