Vasily Insarsky (1814–1882) started keeping a journal in the Caucasus where he was invited to work as director of the chancellery by Prince Aleksandr Baryatinsky. The philosopher and writer Prince Vladimir Odoyevsky became interested in Insarsky’s journals and encouraged him to become a writer.

In 1868, his “Notes” began to be published by the Russky Arkhiv (Russian Archives) magazine and later by Russkaya Starina (Russian Antiquity). In 1875, “Floodtime” — the writer’s memoirs of his childhood — was published separately.

Vasily Insarsky was born into a noble Penza family of modest means and graduated from Penza secondary school. His vivid descriptions of local traditions and inhabitants contribute to the image of the provincial city of Penza.

The local “pure-blooded”, “vain”, and “capricious” nobility, which had close ties with St. Petersburg, followed all the latest trends. Representatives of the old families — the Arapovs, Zagoskins, Saburovs, Akhlebinins, Kishenskys, Vsevolozhskys, and Dubenskys — lived in great splendor, squandered their money, and organized balls, concerts, and at-home performances, keeping up with the fashions of the Russian capital.

The author of the notes also observed that Penza citizens absolutely loved singing,

The writer’s musical talent helped him get acquainted with the composer Mikhail Glinka.

Vasily Insarsky described 19th — century Penza as “a garden of beauty”, in particular, referring to the Dyukin sisters. According to him, it would be an honor for ancient goddesses “for Venus, Diana, or Psyche…” if the elder sister “sat as a model for their portraits… for it is impossible to find anyone as beautiful and perfect as her even among goddesses.” The author also pointed out that, unlike fashionistas from the capital, “[Penza] girls did not have an inflated opinion of their own beauty.”

In his notes, Vasily Insarsky also described the fair which opened on the day of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. He recalled that landowners from all the surrounding districts came there “allegedly to sell and buy goods” but actually for the traditional summer bride fair.

Insarsky described all aspects of local life, including bribe-takers, in a vivid and gently humorous manner.

In 2016, “Floodtime” was included in the anthology “Penza Region in Memoirs, Fiction, and Research” published by the local historian Igor Shishkin.