The book contains a record of the conversations of the Anglo-American poet and philosopher W. H. Auden (1907-1973) with his student, and later friend, the poet Alan Ansen. Auden's "table conversations" with Ansen took place in 1946-1947, when Auden lectured on Shakespeare at New York's New School for Social Research. However, Shakespeare is not the only hero of conversations with Auden. In the theater of shadows of Oden's imagination, we will see poets and politicians, unknown policemen and famous libertines. Auden's ironic, sometimes shocking frankness and brilliant mind give the book a special spice.