Elizaveta Diakonova (1874–1902) was a writer and publicist who represented progressive Russian merchants of the 19th century. Her “Diaries of a Russian Woman,” begun at the age of 11 and continued until her death, captured an entire era: family life, education, questions of higher education for women, everyday life of young people and students of the 1890s, her personal reflections and portraits of friends, as well as the development of the women’s movement. The experiences and difficulties she described in growing up remain relevant even today.