The history of one city is a summary with quotes. "History of one city": analysis of the work by chapters. Bogdan Bogdanovich Pfeifer

Year: 1869 Genre: novel Main characters: foolovites

This is the story of a city that was ruled by mayors for a hundred years. Saltykov-Shchedrin published his novel in 1870. A very specific work, difficult to read. At the very beginning, the author says that he has long wanted to write the history of some city. But all the time "hands did not reach": he had little truthful material. He rummaged through the archives of the city of Glupov and found a bunch of notebooks about him. They contained biographies of city governors, which, according to Saltykov-Shchedrin, are genuine. Not everyone is discussed in the novel, but only those who at least somehow stood out.

The satirical novel presents the appearance of the city and various changes that simultaneously took place in the highest circles of power. This work, through exaggeration, humor and sarcasm, shows the history of Russian society in the second half of the 19th century.

Summary Saltykov-Shchedrin The history of one city by chapter

Over a century of history, 22 mayors have changed. And the archivists who compiled the chronicle wrote about all of them truthfully. The city traded in kvass, liver and boiled eggs. It is located on seven mountains.

On the origin of the Foolovites

The history of the emergence of the city is connected with the people who were called bunglers. Other tribes lived next to them. They constantly fought among themselves, then reconciled. Endless wars ravaged all the lands. The bunglers understood that it was necessary to change the situation, and they defeated all the tribes.

But there was still no order among them. They decided to look for a prince for themselves. The first one they approached turned down the bunglers. For endless quarrels, he called them stupid and advised them to look for a prince like himself. Offended bunglers spent three years looking for a stupid ruler.

One of the tribesmen said that he had a friend - a thief-innovator. He will find the right prince. This newcomer led the Foolovites behind him. The third prince gave his consent, but on the condition that he would not go to live with them, but would manage the city from his residence. Instead of himself as the chief, he left the innovator.

The bunglers agreed to such a government. And also to the fact that they will pay tribute to the prince-ruler, go to the call for war and be called Foolovites. Returning home, they founded the city of Foolov.

The townspeople were submissive, but the newcomer had to be shown that he knew how to restore order. And therefore periodically organized riots to pacify. But in the end, he stole so much that the prince decided to execute him. But he didn't. Novotor killed himself: he killed himself with a cucumber.

After that, the prince repeatedly sent his deputies-rulers to the city. But they all turned out to be thieves. When the prince got tired of this, he himself came to Foolov. Further in the novel follows a list of 22 mayors, when they ruled and what they remember.

organ

In August 1762, a new chief arrived in the city - Dementy Varlamovich Brodasty. The Foolovites rejoiced, expecting reforms and improvements from him. But Brody turned out to be silent and gloomy. The chief closed himself in his office, creating the appearance of work. When he went out, he uttered only one phrase: “I will not tolerate it!”

People did not understand him and were afraid, whispering that Brody was a werewolf. It became known that the watch and organ master Baibakov often visits the mayor. The Foolovites wondered why Brudasty needed this drunkard. But the chief did not react to the questions of the townspeople and was stubbornly silent.

Once Brodysty invited all the local intelligentsia to a reception. He came out to them with a smile, but could not say his cherished phrase and ran away. And he would have been the mayor for a long time, if not one case.

One morning an official came with a report to his office. He saw the sitting body of Brodysty and his empty head lying on the table. The officer quickly ran out in fear. The residents who learned about this incident understood that it was impossible for an empty-headed person to manage the city.

Master Baibakov told them that there was a small organ in the head of the mayor that could only play two melodies “I will ruin” and “I will not tolerate”. While he was getting to Stupid Busty's head broke a little. Baibakov took it with him, repaired it and returned it. But all attempts were in vain, then the master advised to apply to St. Petersburg with a request to send a new head.

The Tale of the Six Mayors

Brody did just that, but the package has not yet been delivered. The mayor's assistant sent a telegram to the capital, waiting for an explanation, and so far locked Brodysty's body. Anarchy began in Foolov: people stopped working, murders began. But a holy place is never empty, and others, and women, decided to become mayors.

For seven days without bosses, six representatives of the fair sex alternately considered themselves the rulers of the city. The first was a childless widow. The father of the second adventurer was once a mayor. The third contender was German, the fourth was Polish. Dunka and Matryonka came to power at the same time. All the rulers ended their lives tragically.

The news about Dvokurov

On the seventh day, a new mayor, Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov, arrived in Foolov. He ruled the city for 8 years. It was one of the best times in Glupov's history. But there were very few records about Dvoekurov in the annals. Most likely, subsequent mayors tried to remove information about a worthy person.

hungry city

For 6 years, under the mayor Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko, everything was fine in Glupovo. But in the seventh year of his reign, a demon took possession of him, and he began to restore order. He sent to Siberia, along with thieves and robbers, the innocent husband of a girl who for a long time did not want to become Ferdyshchenko's mistress.

Shortly thereafter, an unprecedented drought began in the city, causing famine. The inhabitants attributed this divine punishment to the sins of the mayor. And he wrote letters with a request to send bread or soldiers to maintain order. But there was no answer, and people continued to die of hunger. There were periodic riots in the city, there were fires. The people were dissatisfied with the immoral behavior of the mayor. Ferdyshchenko died of gluttony and drunkenness.

Wars for enlightenment

After 7 days, a new mayor arrived - Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin. With him began the golden age of Foolov. Wartkin was a very active figure. He slept with one eye open, which frightened even his wife. He carried out educational reforms by ruining and devastating his people. Wartkin died a natural death to the delight of all the Foolovites.

The era of dismissal from wars

At the beginning of the 19th century, the reign of Negodyaev ended. Nothing remarkable has happened in 4 years. After him was Mikaladze. His reign was peaceful. And he died of exhaustion.

Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky - the next, 15th mayor. He liked to write laws, but as mayor he had no right to adopt them. Then he began to compose sermons that the priests read in churches. The next step was to write our own constitution. This was prevented by Benevolensky's stormy correspondence with the French Emperor Napoleon. They arrested him for treason.

Worship of Mammon and Repentance

The next mayor was Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He had a stuffed head, thanks to which the Foolovites lived well. Pimple was eaten by a local cannibal. State Councilor Ivanov - 17th mayor. He was short and disappeared from the city very quickly.

He was replaced by the Viscount du Chario from France. He was a merry fellow: he ate a lot, arranged masquerades. Under him, the Foolovites began building the tower, but never finished it. When the mayor was dismissed, it turned out that du Chario was a woman.

Nothing is known about the 19th chief. State Councilor Erast Andreevich Sadtilov became the 20th mayor. Under him, parasitism flourished in Foolovo. The people turned to religion. A group of sectarians led by the mayor gathered in an abandoned house to read sermons, conduct mystical rites and cult dances.

Conclusion

After Sadtilov's dismissal, Moody-Grumbling appeared. Residents called the new mayor Satan. He slept on the bare ground, put a stone instead of a pillow, marched every day for 3 hours, giving commands to himself. Gloomy-Grumbling wanted to rebuild the city as he wished: in the middle of the square with the radii of the street going away from it. He opposed the spread of literacy.

The grandiose plans of the new chief included the destruction of the city and the construction of a new one. The new city was named Nepreklonsk. When the construction was over, something like an earthquake happened, and Grump-Grumbling vanished into thin air.

On this story of the mayors of one city stopped. The novel ends with exculpatory documents of various rulers. These are wishes for your followers.

Picture or drawing History of one city

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The story describes the life of the city of Glupov for a hundred years until 1825. The chronicle of the city during this time was kept by four archivists. The history of Glupov is directly connected with the period of government of various mayors. In the first prehistoric chapter, the author considers the question of the origin of the city's population. The people of the bunglers were able to defeat other tribes. The bunglers decided to find a prince to manage them. Many rulers refused to rule over stupid people. One of them agreed, but did not live in the city, leaving instead of himself a governor - a newcomer. The governor turned out to be a thief. The prince sent a noose to a dishonest newcomer. But he did not wait and stabbed himself with a cucumber. After this, the prince appointed several more rulers in his place. But they all stole terribly. The prince himself arrived in Foolov and from that moment began a historical period in the life of the city. Further, the work provides a description of the mayors of Glupov, tells the biographies of the most significant.

Dementy Varlamovich Brodysty was very gloomy and taciturn. He always used two phrases: "I will not tolerate and I will ruin." Once the clerk saw an incredible picture. The busty man was sitting at the table as usual, but his head was separate and completely empty. It turned out that the head of the mayor contained only two organs with melodies: I will not stand it and I will ruin it. But somehow, due to dampness, the head became unusable. Watchmaker Baibakov ordered a new head in the capital. But she did not come on time, so Brody was without a head.

After that, two self-proclaimed chiefs appeared in the city. A messenger from the province quickly picked them up. And Foolov plunged into anarchy. During the week, the city was ruled by six women mayors. Residents quickly got tired of such confusion. Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov became the new mayor. His activities for the city had a positive meaning, he even dreamed of opening an academy in the city.

Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko managed the city very well for the first six years, while Glupov prospered during these years. But then the mayor was beguiled by a demon. He kindled with feelings for the wife of the coachman Alenka. She refused the mayor. Then Ferdyshchenko exiled her husband to Siberia, and Alenka had to obey. But as a punishment for such actions, a drought came to the city, followed by famine. Residents then threw Alenka from the bell tower. Ferdyshchenko wrote various letters to his superiors, even a detachment of soldiers arrived in Foolov. When the mayor fell in love with Domashka again, strong fires began in the city. The ruler was frightened and refused Domashka. Ferdyshchenko's reign ended in travel when he died from overeating.

Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin became the new mayor. He considered himself a smart ruler and even waged wars to educate the people. During his reign, Foolov began to decline.

Another ruler, Theophylact Irinarkhovich Benevolsky, liked to issue various laws, although he did not have the right to do so. Therefore, he scattered leaflets with laws at night. The mayor was dismissed for cooperation with Napoleon.

Then Lieutenant-Colonel Pryshch controlled Glupov. He did not actually participate in the management, but the city surprisingly developed due to excellent harvests. It turned out that Pimple had a stuffed head, which the leader ate, smelling truffles from it.

Under the next mayor - State Councilor Erast Andreevich Sadtilov, Glupov did not develop at all. Laziness and debauchery became characteristic features of the Foolovites. The mayor spent all his time at balls. Soon famine came to Foolov. Sadtilov was soon removed. For a hundred years, the last mayor was Ugryum Burcheev. He was not very intelligent, in fact, was an idiot. Burcheev decided to completely rebuild the city. Foolov was destroyed to the ground. The river interfered with the new construction, but Burcheev failed to block its channel, although he tried very hard. Therefore, Burcheev led the Foolovites to a lowland, it was decided to build a city there. But something went wrong. The mayor literally vanished into thin air and disappeared without a trace. The story ended there.


History of one city(summary by chapter)

Chapter content: On the origin of the Foolovites

This chapter tells about prehistoric times, about how the ancient tribe of bunglers defeated the neighboring tribes of onion-eaters, thick-eaters, walrus-eaters, frogs, kosobryukhy and so on. After the victory, the bunglers began to think about how to put things in order in their new society, since things were not going well for them: either “The Volga was kneaded with oatmeal,” or “they dragged the calf to the bathhouse.” They decided they needed a ruler. To this end, the bunglers went to look for a prince who would rule them. However, all the princes to whom they addressed with this request refused, because no one wanted to rule stupid people. The princes, having “taught” with a rod, the bunglers were released in peace and with “honor”. Desperate, they turned to an innovative thief who managed to help find the prince. The prince agreed to manage them, but he did not begin to live with the bunglers - he sent an innovative thief as his deputy.

Golovotyapov renamed them “Stupid”, and the city, accordingly, became known as “Folupov”.
It was not at all difficult for the Novotor to manage the Foolovites - this people was distinguished by humility and unquestioning execution of orders from the authorities. However, this did not please their ruler, the newcomer wanted riots that could be pacified. The end of his reign was very sad: the thief-innovator stole so much that the prince could not stand it and sent him a noose. But the newcomer managed to get out of this situation - without waiting for the loop, he "killed himself with a cucumber."

Then other rulers, who were sent by the prince, began to appear in Foolov one by one. All of them - Odoevets, Orlovets, Kalyazin - turned out to be unscrupulous thieves, even worse than an innovator. The prince was tired of such events, personally appeared in the city with a cry: "I'll screw it up!". With this cry, the countdown of "historical time" began.

The history of one city (full text chapter by chapter)

About the origin of the Foolovites

“I don’t want, like Kostomarov, to roam the earth like a gray wolf, nor, like Solovyov, to spread like an eagle under the clouds, nor, like Pypin, to spread my thoughts along the tree, but I want to tickle the Foolovites, dear to me, showing the world their glorious deeds and that kind the root from which this famous tree grew and covered the whole earth with its branches.

So the chronicler begins his story, and then, having said a few words in praise of his modesty, he continues.

There was, he says, in ancient times a people called bunglers *, and they lived far to the north, where Greek and Roman historians and geographers assumed the existence of the Hyperborean Sea *. These people were nicknamed bunglers because they had the habit of "pulling" their heads on everything that they met on the way. The wall will fall - they sting against the wall; they will start praying to God - they are grabbing the floor. Many independent tribes* lived in the neighborhood of the bunglers, but only the most remarkable of them were named by the chronicler, namely: walrus-eaters, onion-eaters, thick-eaters, cranberries, kurales, swirling beans, frogs, lapotniks, black-nosed, dolbezhniks, broken heads, blind beards, lip-slaps, lop-eared , kosobryukhi, vendace, corners, crumblers and rukosui These tribes had no religion, no form of government, replacing all this with the fact that they were constantly at enmity with each other. They made alliances, declared wars, reconciled, swore each other in friendship and fidelity, when they lied, they added “let me be ashamed”, and were sure in advance that “shame will not eat out the eyes”. Thus they mutually ruined their lands, mutually abused their wives and virgins, and at the same time were proud of being cordial and hospitable. But when they got to the point that they tore the bark from the last pine tree into cakes, when there were no wives or maidens, and there was nothing to continue the “human factory”, then the bunglers were the first to take up their minds. They realized that someone had to take over, and they sent to tell the neighbors: we will wrestle with each other until then, until someone outweighs whom. “They did it cunningly,” says the chronicler, “they knew that their heads were growing strong on their shoulders, so they offered it.” And indeed, as soon as the simple-hearted neighbors agreed to the insidious proposal, the bunglers immediately, with God's help, turned them all over. The first succumbed to the blind-bearers and rukosui; more than others, the ground-eaters, vendaces and kosobryukhy held out *. To defeat the latter, they were even forced to resort to cunning. Namely: on the day of the battle, when both sides stood up against each other as a wall, the bunglers, unsure of the successful outcome of their case, resorted to witchcraft: they let the sun shine on the belly. The sun, by itself, was so standing that it should have shone in the eyes of the slanted belly, but the bunglers, in order to give this case the appearance of witchcraft, began to wave their hats in the direction of the slanted belly: here, they say, what we are like, and the sun is at one with us. However, the kosobryukhy were not immediately frightened, but at first they also guessed: they poured oatmeal from the bags and began to catch the sun with bags. But they didn’t catch him, and only then, seeing that the truth was on the side of the bunglers, they brought the confession*.

Gathering together Kurales, Gushcheeds and other tribes, the bunglers began to settle inside, with the obvious goal of achieving some kind of order. The chronicler does not set out the history of this device in detail, but cites only separate episodes from it. It began with the fact that the Volga was kneaded with oatmeal, then they dragged a calf to a bathhouse *, then they boiled porridge in a purse, then they drowned a goat in malted dough, then they bought a pig for a beaver, but they killed a dog for a wolf, then they lost bast shoes and looked around the yards: it was there are six bast shoes, but they found seven; then they met the crayfish with a bell ringing, then they drove the pike from the eggs, then they went to catch a mosquito for eight miles, and the mosquito sat on the nose of the Poshekhonets, then they exchanged the father for a dog, then they caulked the jail with pancakes, then they chained the flea to the chain, then the demon became a soldier they gave it away, then they propped up the sky with stakes, finally they got tired and began to wait what would come of it.

But nothing happened. The pike sat on the eggs again; the pancakes with which the prison was caulked were eaten by the prisoners; the purses in which the porridge was boiled burned down along with the porridge. And the strife and hubbub went even worse than before: again they began to destroy each other's lands, take their wives into captivity, swear at the virgins. There is no order, and it is full. They tried again to fight with their heads, but even then they did not finish anything. Then they decided to look for a prince.

He will provide us with everything in an instant, - said the elder Dobromysl, - he will make soldiers with us, and he will build a prison, which follows! Aida, guys!

They searched, they searched for the prince and almost got lost in three pines, but thanks to that there happened to be a blind-breed, who knew these three pines like the back of his hand. He led them to the beaten path and led them straight to the prince's courtyard.

Who you are? and why did you complain to me? - the prince asked the messengers.

We are bunglers! we are not in the light of the people wiser and braver! We even threw our hats on the bellies and those! - boasted bunglers.

What else have you done?

Why, they caught a mosquito seven miles away, - the bunglings began, and suddenly they became so funny, so funny ... They looked at each other and burst out.

But it was you, Pyotra, who went to catch a mosquito! Ivashka laughed.

No, not me! he was sitting on your nose!

Then the prince, seeing that they did not leave their strife even here, in front of him, became very inflamed and began to teach them with a rod.

You are stupid, you are stupid! - he said, - you should not be called bunglers, according to your deeds, but fools! I don't want to be stupid! but look for such a prince, which is not more stupid in the world - and he will rule you.

Having said this, he taught a little more with a rod and sent the bunglers away from him with honor.

The bunglers pondered over the words of the prince; We walked all the way and everyone was thinking.

Why did he cast us out? - said some, - we are to him with all our hearts, and he sent us to look for the stupid prince!

But at the same time, others also turned up who did not see anything offensive in the words of the prince.

What! - they objected, - the stupid prince will probably be even better for us! Now we give him a gingerbread in his hands: chew, but don’t hush us up!

And that's true, agreed the others.

The good fellows returned home, but at first they decided to try again to settle themselves. They fed the rooster on a rope so that it would not run away, they ate the god ... However, it was all to no avail. They thought and thought and went to look for the stupid prince.

They walked on level ground for three years and three days, and still could not get anywhere. Finally, however, they reached the swamp. They see a Chukhloma hand-wielding man standing on the edge of the swamp, his mittens sticking out behind his belt, and he is looking for others.

Don't you know, dear handyman, where can we find such a prince, so that he would not be more stupid in the world? - pleaded bunglers.

I know there is one, - the hand answered, - go straight through the swamp, just here.

They all rushed into the swamp at once, and more than half of them sank here (“Many were jealous for their land,” says the chronicler); finally they got out of the quagmire and they saw: on the other side of the swamp, right in front of them, the prince himself was sitting - yes, stupid, stupid! Sits and eats hand-written gingerbread. The bunglers rejoiced: that's the prince! We don't want anything better!

Who you are? and why did you complain to me? - said the prince, chewing gingerbread.

We are bunglers! We are no people wiser and braver! We are the Gushcheeds - and they won! bragheads boasted.

What else have you done?

We drove the pike from the eggs, we kneaded the Volga with oatmeal ... - they began to list the bunglers, but the prince did not want to listen to them.

I'm so stupid, - he said, - and you are even more stupid than me! Does a pike sit on eggs? or is it possible to knead a free river with oatmeal? No, you should not be called bunglers, but fools! I do not want to rule over you, but look for yourself such a prince, which is not more stupid in the world - and he will rule over you!

And, having punished with a rod, he released with honor.

The bunglers thought: the chicken's son cheated! He said, this prince is not stupider - but he is smart! However, they returned home and again began to settle by themselves. In the rain, they dried the onuchi, they climbed to look at the Moscow pine tree. And everything is not as there is no order, and it is complete. Then Peter Komar advised everyone.

I have, - he said, - a friend-friend, nicknamed a thief-innovator, so if some kind of burnout of the prince does not find, then you judge me with a merciful court, chop off my untalented head from my shoulders!

He said this with such conviction that the bunglers obeyed and called in a new thief. For a long time he bargained with them, asked for gold coins and money for the search, but the bunglers gave a penny and their stomachs in addition. Finally, however, they somehow managed to come to terms and went to look for the prince.

You look for us such that he was unwise! - the bunglings said to the new thief, - why should we be wise, well, to hell with him!

And the thief-innovator led them at first all in a spruce forest and a birch forest, then in a dense thicket, then in a copse, and led them straight to a clearing, and in the middle of that clearing the prince was sitting.

As the bunglers looked at the prince, they froze. He sits, this, in front of them is a prince and a smart, smart one; he shoots at the gun and waves his saber. Whatever fires out of a gun, the heart will shoot through, whatever it waves with a saber, then the head is off your shoulders. And the innovative thief, having done such a dirty deed, stands, strokes his belly and smiles in his beard.

What you! crazy, crazy, crazy! will this one come to us? they were a hundred times more stupid - and they did not go! - the bunglings attacked the new thief.

Nothing! we'll have it! - said the innovator thief, - give me time, I'll have a word with him eye to eye.

The bunglers see that the thief-innovator has traveled around them on a curve, but they don’t dare to back down.

This, brother, is not something to fight with "slanted" foreheads! no, here, brother, give an answer: what is a person like? what rank and rank? they chatter among themselves.

And this time the thief-innovator reached the prince himself, took off his sable cap in front of him and began to speak secret words in his ear. They whispered for a long time, but they didn’t hear about anything. Only the bunglers sensed how the innovative thief said: “To tear them, your princely grace, is always very free” *.

Finally, it was their turn to stand before the clear eyes of his princely lordship.

What kind of people are you? and why did you complain to me? the prince turned to them.

We are bunglers! there is no braver people among us,” the bunglers began, but suddenly they became embarrassed.

Heard, misters bunglers! - the prince chuckled (“and he smiled so affectionately, as if the sun shone!” - the chronicler remarks), - he heard it very much! And I know how you met cancer with a bell ringing - I know enough! I don’t know about one thing, why did you complain to me?

And we came to your princely lordship to announce this: we repaired a lot of murders among ourselves, we did a lot of ruin and insults to each other, but we don’t have all the truth. Go and Volodya us!

And who, I ask you, did you doprezh this of the princes, my brothers, with a bow?

And we were with one stupid prince, and with another stupid prince - and they didn’t want to lead us!

OK. I want to be your leader, - said the prince, - but I won’t go to live with you! That is why you live by an animal custom: you remove the foam from untried gold, spoil your daughter-in-law! But I am sending to you, instead of myself, this new thief himself: let him govern your houses, and I will push around them and you from now on!

The bunglers lowered their heads and said:

And you will pay me many tributes, - continued the prince, - whoever brings a sheep to a bright one, write a sheep on me, but leave a bright one for yourself; whoever has a penny, break it into four: give one part to me, the other to me, the third again to me, and keep the fourth for yourself. When I go to war - and you go! Other than that, you don't care!

And those of you who care about nothing, I will have mercy; the rest of all - to execute.

So! - answered the bunglers.

And since you didn’t know how to live on your own, and you yourself, stupid, wished for yourself bondage, then you will henceforth be called not bunglers, but Foolovites.

So! - answered the bunglers.

Then the prince ordered the ambassadors to be surrounded with vodka and presented with a cake, and a scarlet scarf, and, having overlaid with tributes many, he released from him with honor.

The bunglers went home and sighed. “They sighed without weakening, they cried out loudly!” - the chronicler testifies. “Here it is, what a princely truth!” they said. And they also said: “We drank, we drank, and we drank!” * One of them, taking the harp, sang:

Don't make noise, mother green dubrovushka!*
Do not interfere with the good fellow thinking,
How in the morning I, good fellow, go for interrogation
Before the formidable judge, the king himself ...

The further the song flowed, the lower the heads of the bunglers drooped. “There were among them,” says the chronicler, “the old people were gray-haired and wept bitterly that they had squandered their sweet will; there were also young ones who barely tasted that will, but they also wept. Only then did everyone know what a beautiful will is. When the final verses of the song were heard:

I'm for you, kid, I'll take pity
Among the field, high mansions,
With two pillars with a crossbar ... -
then they all fell on their faces and wept.

But the drama has already taken place irrevocably. Arriving home, the bunglers immediately chose a swamp and, having founded a city on it, they called themselves Foolov, and after that city they called themselves Foolovites. “So this ancient industry flourished,” adds the chronicler.

But the thief-innovator did not like this humility. He needed riots, because by pacifying them he hoped to win the favor of the prince for himself, and to collect swag from the rebels. And he began to pester the Foolovites with all sorts of falsehoods, and indeed, not for a long time kindled riots. First the corners rebelled, and then the rennets *. The thief-innovator went at them with a cannon shell, fired relentlessly and, having fired everyone, made peace, that is, he ate halibut at the corners, and abomasums at the rennets. And he received great praise from the prince. Soon, however, he was stealing so much that rumors about his insatiable theft even reached the prince. The prince became inflamed and sent a noose to the unfaithful slave. But the novotor, like a real thief, also dodged: he preceded the execution by not waiting for the loop, he stabbed himself with a cucumber.

After the new thief, an Odoevite came to “replace the prince”, the same one who “bought lean eggs for a penny”. But he also guessed that without riots he could not live, and he also began to pester. The kosobryukhi, Kalashnikovs, strawmen* rose up - everyone defended the old days and their rights. Odoevets went against the rebels, and also began to fire relentlessly, but he must have fired in vain, because the rebels not only did not humble themselves, but carried away the black-skyed and lip-slaps with them. The prince heard the stupid shooting of the stupid odoevtsa and endured for a long time, but in the end he could not stand it: he went out against the rebels in his own person and, having burned everyone to the last, returned home.

I sent a real thief - it turned out to be a thief, - the prince was sad at the same time, - I sent an Odoyevets nicknamed "sell lean eggs for a penny" - and he turned out to be a thief. Who will I send now?

He pondered for a long time which of the two candidates should be given the advantage: whether the Orlovites - on the grounds that “Eagle and Kromy are the first thieves” - or the Shuyanin, on the grounds that he “had been in St. Petersburg, poured on the floor, and then did not fall ”, but, finally, he preferred the Orlovets, because he belonged to the ancient family of “Broken Heads”. But as soon as the Orlovets arrived at the place, the old people rose up in a riot and, instead of the governor, met the rooster with bread and salt. An Orlovet went to them, hoping to feast on sterlets in Staritsa, but found that there "only enough mud." Then he burned the Staritsa, and gave the wives and maidens of the Staritsa to himself for reproach. “The prince, having learned about it, cut his tongue.”

Then the prince once again tried to send a "simpler thief", and for these reasons he chose a Kalyazin who "bought a pig for a beaver", but this one turned out to be even more of a thief than a Novotor and an Orlovet. He rebelled against the Semendyaev and Zaozertsy and "killed them and burned them."

Then the prince bulged his eyes and exclaimed:

There is no bitterness of stupidity, like stupidity!

And I arrived in my own person to Foolov and cry out:

I'll constipate!

With this word began historical times.

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This story is a "genuine" chronicle of the city of Glupov, "Glupovsky Chronicler", embracing the period from 1731 to 1825, which was "successively composed" by four of Stupov's archivists. In the chapter "From the Publisher" the author especially insists on the authenticity of the Chronicler and invites the reader to "catch the physiognomy of the city and follow how its history reflected the various changes that simultaneously took place in the higher spheres."

The Chronicler opens with "An address to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler." The archivist sees the chronicler's task in "being a depiction" of "touching correspondence" - the authorities, "daring in moderation", and the people, "giving thanks in moderation". History, therefore, is the history of the reign of various city governors.

First, a prehistoric chapter “On the Root of the Origin of the Foolovites” is given, which tells how the ancient people of the bunglers defeated the neighboring tribes of walrus-eaters, onion-eaters, kosobryukhy, etc. But, not knowing what to do so that there was order, the bunglers went to look for a prince . They turned to more than one prince, but even the most stupid princes did not want to “rule the stupid” and, having taught them with a rod, let them go with honor. Then the bunglers called in a thief-innovator who helped them find the prince. The prince agreed to "rule" them, but did not go to live with them, sending a thief-innovator instead. The prince himself called the bunglers "stupid", hence the name of the city.

The Foolovites were a submissive people, but the Novotor needed riots to pacify them. But soon he was stealing so much that the prince "sent a noose to the unfaithful slave." But the Novotor “and then dodged: ‹…› without waiting for the loop, he stabbed himself with a cucumber.”

The prince also sent other rulers - an Odoev, an Orlov, a Kalyazin - but they all turned out to be sheer thieves. Then the prince "... arrived in his own person to Foolov and yelled:" I'll screw it up! With these words began historical times.

In 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brodasty arrived in Foolov. He immediately struck the Foolovites with his sullenness and reticence. His only words were "I won't stand it!" and "I'll ruin it!" The city was lost in conjecture, until one day the clerk, entering with a report, saw a strange sight: the body of the mayor, as usual, was sitting at the table, while his head was completely empty on the table. Foolov was shocked. But then they remembered about the watch and organ affairs of master Baibakov, who secretly visited the mayor, and, having called him, they found out everything. In the head of the mayor, in one corner, there was an organ that could play two pieces of music: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". But on the way, the head got damp and needed to be repaired. Baibakov himself could not cope and turned to St. Petersburg for help, from where they promised to send a new head, but for some reason the head was delayed.

Anarchy ensued, ending with the appearance of two identical mayors at once. “The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd dispersed slowly and in silence. A messenger immediately arrived from the province and took away both impostors. And the Foolovites, left without a mayor, immediately fell into anarchy.

The anarchy continued throughout the next week, during which six mayors changed in the city. The townsfolk rushed from Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova to Clementine de Bourbon, and from her to Amalia Karlovna Stockfish. The claims of the first were based on the short-term activity of the mayor of her husband, the second - of her father, and the third - she herself was a mayor's pompadour. The claims of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, and then Dunka the fat-footed and Matryonka the nostrils, were even less substantiated. In between hostilities, the Foolovites threw some citizens from the bell tower and drowned others. But they are also tired of anarchy. Finally, a new mayor arrived in the city - Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. His activity in Foolovo was beneficial. “He introduced mead and brewing and made the use of mustard and bay leaves obligatory,” and also wanted to establish an academy in Foolov.

Under the next ruler, Peter Petrovich Ferdyshchenko, the city flourished for six years. But in the seventh year, "Ferdyshchenko was embarrassed by the demon." The mayor was inflamed with love for the coachman's wife Alenka. But Alenka refused him. Then, with the help of a series of successive measures, Alenka's husband, Mitka, was branded and sent to Siberia, and Alenka came to her senses. A drought fell upon the Foolovs through the sins of the mayor, and famine followed it. People started dying. Then came the end of Foolov's patience. First they sent a walker to Ferdyshchenko, but the walker did not return. Then they sent a petition, but this did not help either. Then they finally got to Alenka, and they threw her off the bell tower. But Ferdyshchenko did not doze off either, but wrote reports to his superiors. No bread was sent to him, but a team of soldiers arrived.

Through the next hobby of Ferdyshchenko, archer Domashka, fires came to the city. Pushkarskaya Sloboda was on fire, followed by Bolotnaya Sloboda and Scoundrel Sloboda. Ferdyshchenko again shied away, returned Domashka to the “optism” and called the team.

The reign of Ferdyshchenko ended with a journey. The mayor went to the city pasture. In different places, the townspeople greeted him and dinner was waiting for him. On the third day of the journey, Ferdyshchenko died of overeating.

Ferdyshchenko's successor, Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin, took up his post resolutely. Having studied the history of Glupov, he found only one role model - Dvoekurov. But his achievements were already forgotten, and the Foolovites even stopped sowing mustard. Wartkin ordered that this mistake be corrected, and added Provence oil as punishment. But the fools did not give in. Then Borodavkin went on a military campaign against Streletskaya Sloboda. Not everything in the nine-day campaign was successful. In the dark, they fought with their own. Many real soldiers were fired and replaced with tin soldiers. But Wartkin survived. Having reached the settlement and not finding anyone, he began to pull the houses into logs. And then the settlement, and behind it the whole city, surrendered. Subsequently, there were several more wars for enlightenment. In general, the reign led to the impoverishment of the city, which finally ended under the next ruler, Negodyaev. In this state, Foolov found the Circassian Mikeladze.

No events were held during this period. Mikeladze stepped aside from administrative measures and dealt only with the female sex, to which he was a great hunter. The city was resting. "The visible facts were few, but the consequences are innumerable."

The Circassian was replaced by Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky, a friend and comrade of Speransky in the seminary. He had a passion for law. But since the mayor did not have the right to issue his own laws, Benevolensky issued laws secretly, in the house of the merchant Raspopova, and scattered them around the city at night. However, he was soon dismissed for relations with Napoleon.

The next was Lieutenant Colonel Pryshch. He did not deal with business at all, but the city flourished. The harvests were huge. The fools were worried. And the secret of Pimple was revealed by the leader of the nobility. A great lover of minced meat, the leader sensed that the head of the mayor smelled of truffles and, unable to stand it, attacked and ate the stuffed head.

After that, state councilor Ivanov arrived in the city, but "turned out to be so small that he could not contain anything spacious," and died. His successor, the immigrant Vicomte de Chario, constantly had fun and was sent abroad by order of his superiors. Upon examination, it turned out to be a girl.

Finally, State Councilor Erast Andreevich Sadtilov appeared in Foolov. By this time the Foolovites had forgotten the true God and clung to idols. Under him, the city was completely mired in debauchery and laziness. Hoping for their happiness, they stopped sowing, and famine came to the city. Sadtilov was busy with daily balls. But everything suddenly changed when she appeared to him. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeifer showed Sadtilov the path of goodness. The holy fools and the wretched, who experienced hard days during the worship of idols, became the main people in the city. The Foolovites repented, but the fields remained empty. The Glupovsky beau monde gathered at night to read Mr. Strakhov and "admiration", which the authorities soon found out about, and Sadtilov was removed.

The last Foolovsky mayor, Ugryum-Burcheev, was an idiot. He set a goal - to turn the Foolovs into "the city of Nepreklonsk, eternally worthy of the memory of Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich" with straight, identical streets, "companies", identical houses for identical families, etc. Ugryum-Burcheev thought out the plan in detail and proceeded to execution. The city was destroyed to the ground, and it was possible to start building, but the river interfered. She did not fit into the plans of Ugryum-Burcheev. The indefatigable mayor led an offensive against her. All the garbage, all that was left of the city, was put into action, but the river washed away all the dams. And then Moody-Grumbling turned around and walked away from the river, leading the Foolovites with him. A completely flat lowland was chosen for the city, and construction began. But something has changed. However, the notebooks with the details of this story have been lost, and the publisher gives only the denouement: "... the earth shook, the sun faded‹...> It came." Without explaining what exactly, the author only reports that “the scoundrel instantly disappeared, as if dissolved in thin air. History has stopped flowing."

The story is closed by "acquittal documents", i.e., the writings of various city governors, such as: Borodavkin, Mikeladze and Benevolensky, written as a warning to other city governors.

Summary of the “History of a City” by Saltykov-Shchedrin

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In 1870, after a series of publications of individual chapters, the work of Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin "The History of a City" was published. This event received a wide public outcry - the writer was accused of mocking the Russian people and denigrating the facts of Russian history. The genre of the work is a satirical story, exposing the morals, the relationship between power and people in an autocratic society.

The story "The History of a City" is full of such devices as irony, grotesque, Aesopian language, allegory. All this allows the author, in individual episodes, bringing what is described to the point of absurdity, to vividly depict the absolute obedience of the people to any arbitrary power. The vices of the society contemporary to the author have not been eliminated even today. After reading the “History of a City” in a summary of chapters, you will get acquainted with the most important moments of the work, clearly demonstrating the satirical orientation of the story.

main characters

The main characters of the story are the mayors, each of whom managed to be remembered in some way in the history of the city of Glupov. Since the story describes a lot of portraits of mayors, it is worth dwelling on the most significant characters.

busty- shocked the inhabitants with his categoricalness, with his exclamations on any occasion “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!".

Dvoekurov with his "great" reforms regarding bay leaves and mustard, seems completely harmless against the background of subsequent mayors.

Wartkin- fought with his own people "for enlightenment."

Ferdyshchenko– his greed and lust almost killed the townspeople.

Acne- the people were not ready for such a ruler as he was - people lived too well under him, not interfering in any affairs.

Gloomy-Grumbling- with all his idiocy, he managed not only to become the mayor, but also to destroy the entire city, trying to realize his crazy idea.

Other characters

If the main characters are the mayors, the secondary ones are the people with whom they interact. The common people are shown as a collective image. The author generally depicts him as obeying his ruler, ready to endure all oppression and various oddities of his power. They are shown by the author as a faceless mass that rebels only when there is a mass death of people around from hunger or fires.

From the publisher

"History of one city" tells about the city of Foolov, its history. The chapter "From the Publisher" in the voice of the author assures the reader that the "Chronicle" is genuine. He invites the reader to "catch the physiognomy of the city and follow how its history reflected the various changes that simultaneously took place in the higher spheres." The author emphasizes that the plot of the narrative is monotonous, "almost exclusively limited to the biographies of mayors."

Appeal to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler

In this chapter, the author sets himself the task of conveying a “touching correspondence” to the authorities of the city, “daring to the extent” of the people, “thanks to the extent possible”. The archivist tells that he will present the reader with the history of the government in the city of Glupovo of the mayors, one after the other replacing in the highest post. The narrators, four local chroniclers, recount in turn the "genuine" events taking place in the city from 1731 to 1825.

About the origin of the Foolovites

This chapter tells about prehistoric times, about how the ancient tribe of bunglers defeated the neighboring tribes of onion-eaters, thick-eaters, walrus-eaters, frogs, kosobryukhy and so on. After the victory, the bunglers began to think about how to put things in order in their new society, since things were not going well for them: either “The Volga was kneaded with oatmeal,” or “they dragged the calf to the bathhouse.” They decided they needed a ruler. To this end, the bunglers went to look for a prince who would rule them. However, all the princes to whom they addressed with this request refused, because no one wanted to rule stupid people. The princes, having “taught” with a rod, the bunglers were released in peace and with “honor”. Desperate, they turned to an innovative thief who managed to help find the prince. The prince agreed to manage them, but he did not begin to live with the bunglers - he sent an innovative thief as his deputy.

Golovotyapov renamed them “Stupid”, and the city, accordingly, became known as “Folupov”.
It was not at all difficult for the Novotor to manage the Foolovites - this people was distinguished by humility and unquestioning execution of orders from the authorities. However, this did not please their ruler, the newcomer wanted riots that could be pacified. The end of his reign was very sad: the thief-innovator stole so much that the prince could not stand it and sent him a noose. But the newcomer managed to get out of this situation - without waiting for the loop, he "killed himself with a cucumber."

Then other rulers, who were sent by the prince, began to appear in Foolov one by one. All of them - Odoevets, Orlovets, Kalyazin - turned out to be unscrupulous thieves even worse than an innovator. The prince was tired of such events, personally appeared in the city with a cry: "I'll screw it up!". With this cry, the countdown of "historical time" began.

Inventory to the mayors, at various times in the city of Foolov from the higher authorities appointed (1731 - 1826)

This chapter lists the names of the mayors of Glupov and briefly mentions their "achievements". It speaks of twenty-two rulers. So, for example, about one of the city governors in the document it is written as follows: “22) Intercept-Zalikhvatsky, Archangel Stratilatovich, Major. I will keep silent about this. He rode into Foolov on a white horse, burned the gymnasium and abolished the sciences. ”(The meaning of the chapter is not clear)

organ

The year 1762 was marked by the beginning of the reign of the mayor Dementy Varlamovich Brodasty. The Foolovites were surprised that their new ruler is sullen and says nothing but two phrases: "I will not tolerate it!" and "I'll ruin it!" They did not know what to think until the secret of Brodystoy was revealed: his head is completely empty. The clerk accidentally saw a terrible thing: the mayor's torso, as usual, was sitting at the table, but the head was separately lying on the table. And there was nothing in it at all. The townspeople did not know what to do now. They remembered Baibakov, the watchmaker and organ maker, who had recently visited Brudastom. After questioning Baibakov, the Foolovites found out that the head of the mayor was equipped with a musical organ that played only two pieces: “I won’t stand it!” and "I'll ruin it!" The organ broke down, damp on the way. The master could not fix it on his own, so he ordered a new head in St. Petersburg, but the order was delayed for some reason.

There was an anarchy, the ending of which was put by the unexpected appearance of two absolutely identical impostor rulers at the same time. They saw each other, "measured each other with their eyes," and the inhabitants, who watched this scene, silently slowly dispersed. A messenger who arrived from the province took both "mayors" with him, and anarchy began in Glupovo, which lasted a whole week.

The Tale of the Six Mayors (Picture of Foolovsky civil strife)

This time was very eventful in the field of city government - the city survived as many as six mayors. Residents watched the struggle of Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova, Klementinka de Bourbon, Amalia Karlovna Stockfish. The first assured that she was worthy of being a mayor due to the fact that her husband had been engaged in mayoral activities for some time, the second had her father, the third had once been a mayoral pompadour. In addition to those named, Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, Dunka the fat-footed and Matryonka the nostril also claimed power. There were no grounds for the latter to claim the role of city governors at all. Serious battles broke out in the city. The Foolovites drowned and threw their fellow citizens from the bell tower. The city is tired of anarchy. And then, finally, a new mayor appeared - Semyon Konstatinovich Dvoekurov.

The news about Dvokurov

The newly-minted ruler of the Dvoekurs ruled the Foolovs for eight years. He is noted as a person of advanced views. Dvokurov developed activities that became beneficial for the city. Under him, they began to engage in honey and brewing, ordered mustard and bay leaf to be eaten. His intentions included the establishment of the Academy in Foolov.

hungry city

Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko replaced Dvoekurov's board. The city lived for six years in prosperity and prosperity. But in the seventh year, the mayor fell in love with Alena Osipova, the wife of the coachman Mitka. However, Alenka did not share Pyotr Petrovich's feelings. Ferdyshchenko took all sorts of actions to make Alenka fall in love with him, even sent Mitka to Siberia. Alenka became supportive of the courtship of the mayor.

A drought began in Foolovo, followed by famine and human deaths. The Foolovites lost patience and sent a messenger to Ferdyshchenko, but the walker did not return. The petition was also not answered. Then the inhabitants rebelled and threw Alenka from the bell tower. A company of soldiers came to the city to suppress the riot.

thatched city

The next love interest of Pyotr Petrovich was the archer Domashka, whom he recaptured from the “optism”. Along with the new love, the fires caused by the drought came to the city. Pushkarskaya Sloboda burned down, then Bolotnaya and Negodnitsa. The Foolovites accused Ferdyshchenko of a new misfortune.

fantasy traveler

Ferdyshchenko's new stupidity hardly brought a new disaster to the townspeople: he went on a journey through the city pasture, forcing the inhabitants to give themselves food supplies. The journey ended three days later with the death of Ferdyshchenko from gluttony. The Foolovites were afraid that they would be accused of deliberately "feeding the brigadier." However, a week later, the fears of the townspeople dissipated - a new mayor arrived from the province. The decisive and active Borodavkin marked the beginning of the "golden age of Glupov." People began to live in full abundance.

Wars for enlightenment

Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, the new mayor of Glupov, studied the history of the city, and decided that the only previous ruler worth emulating was Dvoekurov, and he was struck not even by the fact that his predecessor had paved the streets of the city and collected arrears, but by the fact that under him sowed mustard. Unfortunately, the people have already forgotten it and even stopped planting this culture. Wartkin decided to remember the old days, to resume sowing mustard and eating it. But the inhabitants stubbornly did not want to return to the past. The Foolovites rebelled on their knees. They were afraid that in the event that they obeyed Wartkin, in the future he would force them "whatever else there is an abomination." The mayor undertook a military campaign against Streletskaya Sloboda, "the source of all evil," in order to suppress the rebellion. The campaign lasted nine days and it is difficult to call it completely successful. In absolute darkness, their own fought with their own. The mayor suffered the betrayal of his supporters: one morning he discovered that more the soldiers were fired, they were replaced by tin soldiers, referring to a certain resolution. However, the mayor managed to survive by organizing a reserve of tin soldiers. He reached the settlement, but found no one there. Wartkin began to dismantle the houses by logs, which forced the settlement to surrender.
The future brought three more wars, which were also fought for "enlightenment". The first of three subsequent wars was fought to explain to the inhabitants of the city the benefits of stone foundations for houses, the second - because of the refusal of the inhabitants to grow Persian chamomile, and the third - against the establishment of an academy in the city.
The result of Borodavkin's rule was the impoverishment of the city. The mayor died at the moment when he once again decided to burn the city.

The era of dismissal from wars

In short, the subsequent events look like this: the city finally became impoverished under the next ruler, Captain Negodyaev, who replaced Borodavkin. Negodyaev was fired very soon for disagreeing with the imposition of the constitution. However, the chronicler considered this reason to be formal. The true reason was the fact that the mayor once served as a stoker, which to a certain extent was regarded as belonging to a democratic principle. And the wars for enlightenment and against it were not needed by the city, exhausted by battles. After Negodyaev's dismissal, "Circassian" Mikeladze took the reins of government into his own hands. However, his reign did not affect the situation in the city in any way: the mayor did not deal with Stupid at all, since all his thoughts were connected exclusively with the fair sex.

Benevolensky Theophylact Irinarkhovich became Mikeladze's successor. Speransky was a friend in the seminary of the new mayor, and from him, obviously, Benevolensky inherited a love for legislation. He wrote such laws: “Let every person have a contrite heart”, “Let every soul tremble” and “Let every cricket recognize the heart corresponding to its title.” However, Benevolensky did not have the right to write laws, he was forced to publish them secretly, and at night to scatter his works around the city. This did not last long - he was suspected of having links with Napoleon and fired.

Lieutenant Colonel Pryshch was appointed next. It was surprising that under him the city lived in abundance, huge harvests were collected, despite the fact that the mayor did not at all attend to his direct duties. The townspeople got suspicious again. And they were right in their suspicions: the leader of the nobility noticed that the head of the mayor exudes the smell of truffles. He attacked Pimple and ate the ruler's stuffed head.

Worship of mammon and repentance

In Glupov, a successor to the eaten Pimple appeared - State Councilor Ivanov. However, he soon died, because "he turned out to be so small in stature that he could not contain anything spacious."

He was replaced by the Viscount de Chario. This ruler did not know how to do anything except to have fun all the time, arrange masquerades. He “did not manage affairs and did not interfere in the administration. This last circumstance promised to prolong the well-being of the Foolovites without end ... ”But the emigrant, who allowed the inhabitants to convert to paganism, was ordered to be sent abroad. Interestingly, he turned out to be a special female.

The next person to appear in Glupovo was Erast Andreyevich Sadtilov, a state councilor. By the time of his appearance, the inhabitants of the city had already become absolute idolaters. They forgot God, plunging into depravity and laziness. They stopped working, sowing the fields, hoping for some kind of happiness, and as a result, famine came to the city. Sadtilov cared very little about this situation, since he was busy with balls. However, things soon changed. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeyer influenced Melancholy, pointing out the true path of goodness. And the main people in the city became the wretched and holy fools, who in the era of idolatry found themselves on the sidelines of life.

The inhabitants of Foolov repented of their sins, but this was the end of the matter - the Foolovites did not start working. At night, the city beau monde gathered to read the works of the city of Strakhov. This soon became known to the higher authorities and Sadtilov had to say goodbye to the post of city governor.

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion

The last mayor of Glupov was Ugryum-Burcheev. This man was a complete idiot - "the purest type of idiot," as the author writes. For himself, he set the only goal - to make the city of Nepreklonsk out of the city of Glupov, "eternally worthy of the memory of the Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich." Nepreklonsk was supposed to look like this: city streets should be the same straight lines, houses and buildings should also be identical to each other, people too. Each house should become a "settled unit", which will be watched by him, Ugryum-Burcheeva, a spy. The townspeople called him "Satan" and experienced a vague fear of their ruler. As it turned out, not without reason: the mayor developed a detailed plan and began to implement it. He destroyed the city, leaving no stone unturned. Now the task was to build the city of his dreams. But the river violated these plans, it interfered. Gloomy-Grumbling started a real war with her, using all the garbage that remained as a result of the destruction of the city. However, the river did not give up, washing away all the dams and dams being built. Gloomy-Grumbling turned around and, leading the people, walked away from the river. He chose a new place for the construction of the city - a flat lowland, and began to build the city of his dreams. However, something went wrong. Unfortunately, it was not possible to find out what exactly prevented the construction, since records with the details of this story have not been preserved. The denouement became known: “... time stopped its run. Finally the earth shook, the sun went dark... the Foolovites fell on their faces. Inscrutable horror appeared on all faces, seized all hearts. It has come…” What exactly came, the reader remains unknown. However, the fate of Ugryum-Burcheev is as follows: “the scoundrel instantly disappeared, as if dissolved in the air. History has stopped flowing."

supporting documents

At the end of the narration, "Supporting Documents" are published, which are the works of Borodavkin, Mikeladze and Benevolensky, written as an edification to other mayors.

Conclusion

A brief retelling of the "History of a City" clearly demonstrates not only the satirical direction of the story, but also ambiguously points to historical parallels. The images of the mayors are written off from historical figures, many events also refer to palace coups. The full version of the story, of course, will provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the content of the work in detail.

Story test

Retelling rating

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