The book is based on both folk traditions and archives of the Academy of Sciences and the Foreign College, the publication also presents letters and memoirs of associates and close associates of Peter: S.I. Mordvinova, I.L. Talyzina, A.I. Nagaev, who kept letters from Peter I and some materials on the history of the navy, Admiral 3.D. Mishukov, who served as the orderly of Peter, I.I. Neplyuev, P.I. Rychkova, I.I. Shuvalov, Count A.R. Vorontsov, Princess E.R. Dashkova, G.F. Miller and H. H. Bantysh-Kamensky.