The Seven Ironical Stories

"My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh. But my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain." - Charlie ChaplinThis book includes selected works of satire and humor of Russian writers in the second half of XIX - early XX. These are familiar to the Western reader-Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy, and much less well-known-Teffy and Arkady Averchenko. The stories presented to your attention touch upon the tradition for the classical literature theme of the "little man." Each story is a dramatic sketch-a miniature. Teffy's stories can be a real discovery for a sophisticated reader. She was called the "Queen of Russian Humor." Teffy defined her worldview as Spinoza's philosophical expression, "laughter is joy, and therefore good in itself." Teffy's quotes: "I hate the word 'never.' If I were told that I would never have a headache, for example, I would probably be scared.""No one advises as much as a fool.""Do not be afraid. What you are afraid already came."