This was once considered science fiction.

Now it is perceived as one of the most humane works of modern times, a novel of piercing psychological power, a delicate development of the themes of love and responsibility.

Charlie Gordon's changes are happening before our eyes, here and now. His early reports are full of spelling errors, and he has great difficulty expressing his thoughts; gradually, he begins to write correctly and recount events perfectly.

Geniuses and idiots are two sides of the same coin. They have different IQs, different living conditions, but they are similar in one thing: they are often both infinitely lonely. And the price for the dream of becoming smart becomes too high.

Charlie has a double - the mouse Algernon, only Charlie understands the mouse's behavior and the fact that he himself is assigned the same role of a lab mouse, nothing more.

The novel has been filmed many times in different countries. In 1968, the film 'Charlie' was made in the USA, and the actor Cliff Robertson was awarded an Oscar. In 2006, a film was made in France. In 2007, a play based on the story of the same name was staged at the Alexandrinsky Theater. In 2015, the film was released in Japan, and in the same year, a play 'The Charlie Gordon Effect' was staged at the 'Takiy Theater', directed by Igor Sergeev and Varya Svetlova.

It leaves no one indifferent.