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.