The twelve Chairs. Ilf I.A., Petrov E.P.

After the publication of “Twelve Chairs” (1928), a new wonderful writer - Ilfetrov appeared in Russian/Soviet literature. The “mysterious Jewish soul” and the “mysterious Slavic soul” formed an undivided unity. Perhaps, only Kozma Prutkov and the Strugatsky brothers were the same success of collective creativity in our literature.

For a long time considered an unpretentious humorous book, the novel in the process of historical existence was filled with meaning-and today is perceived as an encyclopedia of Soviet life of the 1920s. At the same time, it is an encyclopedia of wit, which has become a source of jokes and aphorisms for several generations. And the hero of Roman Ostap Bender from a small crook turns into a romantic hero, an extra person, deeply rooted in the Russian tradition. But most importantly, “Twelve Chairs” is a book that causes a direct, lively reader experience today.