This book by Robert McKee completes his trilogy on the art of storytelling. After The Million Dollar Story and The Dialogue, one of the world's most respected screenwriters reveals exactly how to approach character creation in a story, be it a novel, a play, or a film. Before the reader is a detailed manual and a brilliant master class in which theory and practice are masterfully combined. Along with an appeal to the classical tradition of the past, including ancient Greek theater and poetry, the book presents numerous examples from recent literature, drama and cinema. The author scrupulously explores the laws of creating and developing characters, giving them depth and volume, complexity and versatility. Using examples from different genres, he shows how the main characters - within the framework of an ensemble of actors - interact with secondary and auxiliary characters. The creative process is individual, and there are no ready-made recipes. But the knowledge that the author shares, his aesthetic principles will allow writers to comprehend the intricacies of working on images, make them alive and unforgettable, passionate about storytelling.