In this book, historian and cultural scientist Lev Berdnikov talks about the phenomenon of Russian buffoonery. The gallery of characters opens with the “Bloody Buffoon” Ivan the Terrible, who was the first to think of using laughter as a weapon to fight unwanted people and dissidents. Particular attention is paid to the 18th century - the author introduces the reader to the history of the creation by Peter I of the legendary All-Joking Council and a whole galaxy of crowned clowns from the jester Balakirev and Kvasnik the Fool to Jan Lacoste and the self-interested Pedrillo, the favorite of Empress Anna Ioannovna. The book also presents images of Russian wits of the 17th - XIX centuries, and charismatic historical figures (Grigory Potemkin, Alexey Ermolov), as well as our domestic Munchausens, masters of telling amazing stories, appear from this unexpected perspective. Separate chapters are devoted to “literary jesters”—vain and untalented writers who have become parodies in Russian culture and objects of ridicule among fellow writers.