Old Moscow. Old Petersburg.

Mikhail Ivanovich Pyliaev (1842–1899) was born in Gdov, studied in St. Petersburg, attended lectures at Kharkov University, and traveled extensively, including trips across Siberia and the Caucasus, Turkey, and Egypt. In metropolitan publications, Pyliaev published articles on the history of theater and ballet, reviews of art exhibitions, and wrote about cultural events in St. Petersburg. In 1879, several articles about old Petersburg laid the foundation for his future collections, “Old Petersburg: Stories from the Former Life of the Capital” and “Old Moscow: Stories from the Former Life of the Premier Capital.” These works earned him fame as a subtle connoisseur of history. Pyliaev’s writings often remain the only source for facts the author gleaned from private archives that were subsequently lost. These extremely charming narratives, serving as unique guides to the bygone days of the two Russian capitals, remain deservedly popular with readers even more than a century later.