What unites these seemingly different creative personalities: Kozma Prutkov, Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, Mark Twain, Anton Chekhov, Omar Khayyam, Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov? Wit is, perhaps, the main feature that is inherent in them. Subtly noticing the trends of the times, sensitively feeling the essence of a person, accurately identifying phenomena occurring in society, and vividly, accurately, and succinctly expressing one’s thoughts - only very talented people, real geniuses, can possess such qualities. So let's read the memories, works, quotes and aphorisms collected in this book - and laugh. Even if there is laughter through tears.