Count Cagliostro

The work of the outstanding Soviet writer Alexei Tolstoy is truly multifaceted: a master of historical novel, science fiction prose, numerous stories, stories and plays. Thus, the story “The Adventures of Nevzorov, or Ibicus” (1924) is considered an example of the early Soviet Plutovsky novel, and his hero is the adventurer Nevzorov - the precursor of Ostap Bender. According to Korney Chukovsky, the author himself “did not attach much importance to Ibikus and shrugged when I told him that this was one of his best stories.” Along with Ibikus, the book includes Tolstoy’s stories - Peter"s Day and Count Cagliostro, truly masterpieces of historical prose. Getting for historical stories, the writer carefully studied all available sources, recreating the atmosphere of the era and characters of real persons. The author’s interest in such different personalities as Peter I and Cagliostro expressed himself in the charm that these characters are endowed in his works. Visible, bright images of Tolstoy’s heroes were repeatedly transferred to the screen, one of the most famous adaptations was M. Zakharov’s film “Formula of Love” (1984)