A collection of extravagant stories by the famous French writer Henri Troyat, well known in Russia for his historical novels and fictionalized biographies. This time the author gave full rein to his imagination: he went on a journey through different eras and different countries. His heroes - a professional executioner from the time of the French Revolution, the famous artist Arcimboldo and others - rush about in confusion among the eternal troubles of human existence. Mocking phantasmagoria is replaced by thoughtfulness, and thoughtful reflections are replaced by poisonous sarcasm.