The remarkable Russian artist Vasily Vereshchagin (1842-1904) was also known as an original, gifted writer. The book includes selected literary works of Vereshchagin: the story "The Writer," essays, memoirs, travel notes, reflections on art. The book is equipped with reproductions of Vereshchagin paintings, in some cases with author's comments, where the artist acts as a talented, erudite and objective researcher. Much of Vereshchagin's literary heritage, like his immortal artistic heritage, acquires unexpected freshness and relevance for the modern reader.