The article discusses the emergence and development of historical novels in Russia and Azerbaijan at the stage of social realism. It is noted that from the 20s of the 20th century in Russian literature the historical novel was developed in a new direction. In the late 20s - at the very beginning of the 30s, many novels and stories about Pugachev, Razin, Bolotnikov appeared. In Russian historical novels, the most famous figures of Russian history were brought into literature and their work was appreciated before the people. Russian historical novels portrayed statesmen (Peter I), the Decembrists (Kuchelbecker, Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, and others), commanders (Suvorov, Kutuzov, etc.), and in Azerbaijani historical novels - the closest historical events. Interestingly, until the 60s in our historical novels, we are not confronted with the creation of the artistic image of our generals and heroes. Mostly in the written novels you can see the creation of images of Azerbaijani poets. In the 60s, in the writing of a historical novel, as in all spheres, a new stage begins. During this period, such writers as I. Huseynov, F. Karimzade, M. Ibragimov, A. Jafarzade, A. Nijat brought to the center of artistic conflict an important history and the most powerful personalities of our history and managed to create their images.
