Russia under the rule of one person. Notes of the London Exile

“Speaking of Russia, they constantly imagine that they are talking about the same state as others. In fact, this is not at all the case. Russia is a special world, humble will, arbitrariness, fantasies of one person. Is he called Peter or Ivan, the wrong thing: in all cases this is the personification of arbitrariness, ”wrote Alexander Herzen an outstanding Russian publicist, writer, public figure. He knew the features of Russian life well, met with the highest leaders of the state, served in state institutions, was in exile twice and, in the end, was forced to leave Russia. In his memoirs and articles, Herzen not only clearly described the situation in the country, but made deep conclusions about the Russian development path, about the future of Russia. Many of his thoughts are also relevant to this day