Character-reader in Russian literature of the second half of the 19th century

Representation of a character as a reader has a long «lineage» in literature. The article shows how through character’s reading circle, through his attitude to the read some faces and the very essence of his nature are revealed. Thus, any mention of the author (writer, philosopher, etc.) in a literary text, is significant for portrayal of a hero. And being part of the objective world of a book, experiences and reflections of characters caused by reading allow to see the writer’s views, although such a conclusion requires great care, taking into account the artistic context. The article also reviews the image of reader-character as a constructive element of composition of the prose text.