Anecdotes about Russian writers, attributed to Daniil Kharms, were one of the most popular texts in Soviet samizdat. Quotes from them (“Leo Tolstoy loved children very much,” “Here it all ended,” “And he left for Baden-Baden”) became catchphrases. For many years, their original authors, illustrations and real history remained unknown. This publication contains for the first time an original manuscript with the author's drawings, a history of creation, literary and art historical comments, as well as interviews with many of our contemporaries.

Editor-compiler, author of the concept: Sofya Bogdasarova The compiler expresses gratitude to Ilya Simanovsky and Dmitry Sichinava for help and advice in the preparation of this publication. Natalya, Tatyana and Valentina Dobrokhotova-Maykov dedicate this book to their children and grandchildren.

Illustrations on the endpapers: photographs of masks of Russian writers, author - Vladimir Pyatnitsky (in the collection of the Dobrokhotov family - Maykov)