About the book: 2002 / “...Demidov early became an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1831, “wishing to contribute to the success of sciences, literature and industry,” he undertook during his lifetime and for a quarter of a century posthumously donate five thousand rubles as a prize to writers, historians, economists, scientists or travelers who have enriched the storehouse of folk wisdom with their works. At the same time, he set the condition that the academicians themselves should not dare to participate in the competition for the Demidov Prize: “I know this audience... the academician himself!” Give them free rein, so they will start handing out my prizes to one another, and our Gogols and Pushkins will get nothing from them…»