The article deals with the problems of cycle specificity Pisemsky ? prose earlu period.  It studies the scantily explored unknown A.F.Pisemsky ? суclе about Russian mentality?? phenomenon. This is historical cycle (1857-1862). This cycle are historical  portrats of generations before and after the reform. It is composed of the four pieces: novelette “Вraggart”, story “The old man? sin”, short storys: “Dad”, “Old lady”. The stories and  novelettes  are two parts. Two parts are contrasts and parallels in  the story, hero demonstrates his action and resultat. Pisemsky travesties his structure  in  this storyes Novelette  are «point» in final, radical changes Position and opinion of hero. A short story are three parts. Four parts are contrasts and parallels in  the story, hero demonstrates his action and resultat. This article deals with the problem of relations between earlu and old суclеs of Pisemsky . It sintises biographical, historic, litterateural methods of approach.