Abstract. The article discusses the artistic-publicistic synthesis of historical events, mythological legends, and ethnographic materials in M. Nizanov's novel-essay "The Karakalpaks". The portrayal of the origin (ethnogenesis) of the Karakalpak people, the history of their statehood, their religious-spiritual worldview, and their diplomatic relations with the Russian Empire are evaluated from a scientific-critical perspective. It explores the author's masterful utilization of historical sources (archive documents, genealogical records) and examples of oral literature (legends, epics) within the framework of the "novel-essay" genre, as well as the work's role in restoring the national mentality and historical memory of the Karakalpak people.