The Seven Ironical Stories: Anton Chehov, Leo Tolstoy, Arkadiy Averchenko, Teffy

"My pain may be the reason for somebody's laugh.
But my laugh must never be the reason for somebody's pain."
- Charlie Chaplin

This 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."