Yevgeny Petrov, also known by his birth name Yevgeny Katayev, was a prominent Soviet author of the 1920s and 1930s. His literary output, often a collaboration with Ilya Ilf, was characterized by sharp satire and humor that captured the spirit of the era. Together, they crafted unforgettable satirical novels that continue to entertain and provoke readers with their wit and social commentary. Petrov's legacy endures not only through his literary works but also through his courageous service as a war correspondent.
Long recognised as a timeless comic masterpiece-it inspired a Mel Brooks film a half century after its publication-The Twelve Chairs appears now in a lively new translation by Anne O. Fisher. Fisher, the most gifted interpreter of Ilf and Petrov in the English language, balances fidelity to the text and the authors' characteristic, deeply resonant humour.
The funniest novel of the Soviet era, this translation is based on the uncensored original thus restoring missing passages. Set during the New Economic Policy, con man Ostap Bender and his merry band of mischief makers set of on a raucously funny jaunt across the 'wild west' of the early Soviet Union. Their mark is Alexander Koreiko, another shady figure who exploited the corruption and chaos of the NEP to become an underground millionaire. Once Bender hears of Koreiko, the chase is on.
Дилогия Ильфа и Петрова о Великом Комбинаторе Остапе Бендере.