Placeholder text
The Twelve Chairs
0 - Default Title
Description
Kisa soon encounters Ostap Bender, an audacious and quick-witted con artist who becomes his partner in the treasure hunt. Bender's charisma, improvisational genius, and sardonic humor drive much of the novel's energy. Although the two men share the same goal, their partnership is uneasy-Kisa clings to old aristocratic pretensions while Bender represents the new, opportunistic type thriving in Soviet society. Their conflicting personalities create constant friction and comedic tension.
As the search progresses, the pair travel through a wide range of Soviet settings: provincial towns, collective farms, bustling cities, and even nomadic theatrical troupes. Each location introduces new characters-bureaucrats, dreamers, swindlers, the pious priest Father Fyodor (who also chases the treasure), and countless eccentrics who embody the contradictions of the early Soviet period. Through these encounters, Ilf and Petrov paint a vivid, humorous portrait of a society undergoing rapid, chaotic transformation.
Despite its comedic surface, the novel carries a deeper critique of human nature and social change. The chairs, scattered and elusive, symbolize both the absurdity of clinging to the past and the futility of chasing quick riches in the new regime. Kisa's nostalgia and Bender's cunning ultimately lead them into disappointment rather than fortune. By blending adventure, satire, and social observation, The Twelve Chairs remains a classic work that captures the spirit and contradictions of Soviet life with enduring wit and insight.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Number of Pages:
258
Release Date:
2026-02-03
Publication Date:
2026-02-03
Publisher:
IndoEuropeanPublishing.com
Languages:
Original:
English
ISBN13:
9798889425618
Weight:
424 g
Height:
152 cm
Width:
229 cm
Thickness:
15 cm
Currently sold out