«Вышнего града взыскуя». Народные утопические легенды в творчестве М.Е. Салтыкова-Щедрина

The article is devoted to the interest of Saltykov-Shchedrin to folklore and democratic utopic views, to the spirit hopes of the common people, that have an effect on his works, especially on the interpretation of the image of Russia as the secret ideal town. His works are full of the faith in the future of his motherland, in its transfiguration.