Casanova, Stendhal, Tolstoy - wrote S. Zweig, introducing readers to this book - I know that the comparison of these three names sounds more unexpected than convincing, and it is difficult to imagine a plane where a dissolute, immoral swindler... Casanova is met by a heroic champion of morality and a perfect portrayer, like Tolstoy. In fact... these three names symbolize the three steps - one above the other... within the same creative function: self-image ".