Ivan Sergeyevich Shmelev (1873–1950) was a Russian writer and publicist, close in his views to the conservative philosopher Ivan Ilyin. Like Ilyin, Shmelev blamed Russia’s problems on the liberal intelligentsia, believing it had negatively influenced the people. After emigrating following the revolution, Shmelev created outstanding journalistic works about Russia, collected in this book. As he wrote himself, his goal was not to teach love for the Motherland, but to prompt reflection on how to make Russia bright and dear.