The life of the great Russian revolutionary democrat Herzen is rich in tense events, meetings with outstanding people of the era, full of dangerous adventures, full of sharp political struggle. Herzen is the first historian of the Decembrists, the creator of the free Russian press, the defender of the peasants, the patriot of Russia of the future. At the same time, the noble appearance of Herzen - a man, husband, father, educator of those who are close to him - is gently and unobtrusively outlined in the book.