The textbook was written with the participation of Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences D.D. Blagoy and prof. V.I. Kuleshova. It covers the literary process from the beginning of the 19th century to the 40s. Review chapters give an idea of ​ ​ the correlation of the main directions and trends of Russian literature of this period, the formation of artistic methods, literary controversy, the formation of bright creative personalities among writers. The characteristics of the work of individual writers are given, the place of each of them in the progressive movement of Russian literature is determined.