Thaddei Venediktovich Bulgarin (1789–1859) is one of the key figures in Russian literature of the first half of the 19th century. Fierce polemics with A.S. Pushkin and actions as an agent of the Third Section contributed to the deterioration of his reputation, but we should not forget that he was one of the most widely read authors of his time, a major publisher and editor - in particular, he was the first to “get into print” » fragments of “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboyedov and introduced a number of genres into Russian literature. Having started publishing his memoirs, Bulgarin committed an unprecedented act: for the first time in Russia, a memoirist published an autobiography during his lifetime. “Memoirs,” included in the first volume of this publication, tell about the initial stage of the author’s turbulent life, worthy of a picaresque novel: childhood in a Polish family in Belarus, training in the cadet corps in St. Petersburg, participation in wars with France and Sweden, service in Kronstadt, St. Petersburg life and entertainment of the early 19th century, meetings with famous people and love interests. A later stage of Bulgarin’s life is reflected in the memoir essays that make up the second volume of the book. They are dedicated to Napoleon, Karamzin, Arakcheev, Krylov, Griboedov, etc. Bulgarin’s letters to the censors of “Memoirs”, M. A. Korf’s denunciation of the writer’s opinion about M. M. Speransky, responses from N. A. Polevoy and Ya. K. Grot on “Memoirs” and the author’s responses to them.