Resumen

This article is devoted to Andrey Kiselev, probably the most well-known Russian author of mathematics textbooks. His books remained in schools for nearly one hundred years, and his name became legendary, symbolizing the “good old days” when all was supposedly well with mathematics education. Meanwhile, even in Russia, let alone abroad, many aspects of Kiselev’s life are little known. Their study facilitates a better understanding of the complicated nature of the development of Russian and Soviet mathematics education, including the connection between them and seemingly distant social-political issues. The present article undertakes such a study. The author draws on his Russian publications, materials from Russian archives, and other primary sources.