Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka (1804-1857) - one of the key figures in music and a true hero of Russian culture. The incredible, still lifetime, fame of the composer contributed to the emergence of numerous myths and speculation around him. In the presented biography, the real, sometimes contradictory personality of Glinka is recreated. For the first time, it was shown how his worldview and work were influenced by belonging to the Russian nobility and the European high society. The composer's life is considered in a wide historical context, supplemented by stories about travel, medicine, fashion, family law, publishing, home music making, etc.