The work is the history of one city summary. Saltykov-Shchedrin: The history of one city: On the origin of the Foolovites

The History of a City is a stunning novel by the Russian writer Saltykov-Shchedrin. The novel consists of 15 parts. It was released in 1980 and immediately resonated with the people of Russia. The author was ordered to distort the historical data of Russia and accused him of mocking all the inhabitants of this majestic country.

Note! The novel is written in the genre of satire. It reveals the true faces and morals, reflects the relationship of the ruling side with the people.

In creation, the desire of the people to submit to the government is highlighted. The novel belongs to the Russian classics and tells about the history of the city called "Glupov" and the life of its mayors. The events of the book take place in the 18-19 century. Based on this novel, a film was made in 1991 by directors:

• Valentin Karavaev.
• Liliana Monakhova.

The book is written very interestingly, from the first minutes of reading a person is transferred to the 18th century and observes the true confrontation between the authorities and the people. Those who read the novel were delighted with the satirical plot based on historical data.

But due to employment, not everyone can fully read this book because of its large volume. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a summary of the chapters of the "History of a City", presented in the form of a retelling of the famous story.

Table: the main characters of the story.

Main character's name	Characteristic
Ferdyshchenko Petr Petrovich	Pyotr Petrovich in the story acts as the mayor, a former batman under Prince Potemkin. Initially, Peter did not interfere in the affairs of the city, but after six years he realized that with the help of power, greed and lust can be quenched.
Gloomy Burcheev	The last governor of the city is Foolov. His appearance is noted in the last chapter of the satirical story. The hero is characterized as a selfish person who does not take into account the requirements and wishes of the inhabitants of the city.
Pimple Ivan Panteleevich	The governor in the uniform of a colonel. During his government as a province, the colonel brought the city to unusual abundance.
Busty Dementy Varlamovich	Dementy Varlamovich is known as "Organchik". He is one of the governors of the city. The reader was remembered by the unique phrase “I will not tolerate”. Dementy Varlamovich terrified most of the inhabitants of Glupov.
Dvoekurov Semyon Konstantinovich	He became the mayor after Dementy Varlamovich. He occupied such an important post with one goal - to bring the city out of turmoil and establish life in it. The reader will remember the original decree on the mandatory use of mustard and bay leaf.
Foolovites	Indigenous inhabitants of the city of Foolov.
Borodavkin Vasilis Semyonovich	Vasilis Semyonovich became the most noisy governor of the city. He dreamed of military campaigns and victories, but limited himself to a war with the inhabitants of Foolovo.

About the origin of the Foolovites

This chapter of the story highlights the history of the emergence of the Foolovites. In ancient times, there was a people - head-footers. They recognized that without a ruler it would be difficult for them to restore order and began to look for a governor. They applied to many princes, but they refused because of the stupidity of the population. Nobody wanted to become the mayor of the thugs.

The people turned to a man with the nickname "thief-turnover" with a request to find a ruler for them. The thief found the governor, but he did not want to settle with them on the same land and sent a thief as his deputy, who renamed the golovyat into Foolovites and gave the city the name "Fools".

The new ruler was distinguished by greed and greed, so he was soon sentenced to death.

All governors of the city are also indicated at the head:

• Amadeus Clement.
• Photius Ferapontov.
• Ivan Velikanov.
• Manyl Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev.
• Lambrokasis.
• Ivan Baklan.
• Bogdan Pfeifer.
• Dementy Brody.
• Semyon Dvokurov.
• Marquis Sanglot.
• Pyotr Ferdyshchenko.
• Basilisk Wartkin.
• Onufry Negodyaev.
• Xavier Mikaladze.
• Theophylact Benevolensky.
• Ivan Pimple.
• Nikodim Ivanov.
• Erast Sadilov.
• Uryum Burcheev.
• Viscount Chario.
• Archangel Zalikhvatsky.

Important! This title also indicates that the city was without a ruler for a week.

organ

The headline highlights the arrival of a new commander, who was remembered by everyone with two phrases:

• "I won't stand it."
• "I'll ruin."

The inhabitants of the city noticed that the taciturn ruler is such due to the lack of a brain in his head. His head was empty. An organ was installed in it, produced only two compositions.

But the head is broken. After this terrible find, the people called the master to repair the head, but he could not fix it. After that, fuss and lawlessness began in the city, which lasted 7 days.

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

Chapter on struggle three women who wanted to become rulers of the city.

Note! All three applicants had good reasons for holding public office.

But besides them, others fought for power:

1. Nelka Lyadokhovskaya.
2. Dunka.
3. Matryona.

Table: the main contenders for public office.

The war for power between these six women led the city to devastation and anarchy, which Dvoekurov managed to end.

The news about Dvokurov

The coming to power of Dvoekurov significantly changed established order the lives of fools.

Semyon Konstantinovich during his reign:

• He tried to create an academy, but he did not succeed.
• Adopted a decree on the cultivation and use of mustard and bay leaves.
• Introduced brewing in Foolovo.

Important! Dvoekurov is a smart ruler, but for disobedience he punished people with lashes.

hungry city

After the death of Dvoekurov and the reign of Marquis Sanglot, Ferdyshchenko comes to power.

Hungry City Chapter Events:

• Arrival of a new governor.
• The ruler's infatuation with a married woman named Alyona.
• Sending a beloved husband to Siberia.
• The beginning of drought and famine.
• Alena's death at the hands of the Foolovites.
• The beginning of the war between the people and the ruler.
• Pacify the inhabitants with the help of troops.

thatched city

After the death of Alenka and the war, peace temporarily sets in in the city.

Note! But the calm ends with the governor's new passion for archers named Domashka.

Table: chronology of events after the ruler fell in love.

fantasy traveler

Chronology of events in the "fantastic traveler" section:

• After a series of unpleasant events, the governor decides to go on a trip around the neighborhood.
• On the trip, people treat him with various culinary abundance.
• Three days after departure, the mayor becomes ill amid gluttony and overeating. He is dying.
• He is replaced by a new ruler - Wartkin.

Important! Vasilisk Semyonovich laid the foundation for the abundant life of the Foolovites.

Wars for enlightenment

Chronology of events:

1. Wartkin introduces the cultivation of Persian chamomile.
2. Resumes mustard cultivation.
3. The new ruler gathers a campaign that lasted only 9 days.

During the reign of this governor, Foolov became a poor city. He left his government post before ordering the burning of the city and its entire population.

The era of dismissal from wars

In the field of the destructive rule of the old governor, the city finally became impoverished, and in order to save it, no less irresponsible and selfish people began to be appointed to the place of the ruler.

Note! In this chapter, the post of mayor was replaced by 4 people at once.

Table: the ruling mayors in this chapter in order.

Ruler	Description of his reign
Captain Rogue	The captain became Wartkin's successor. But he did not last long in public office, he was fired due to disagreement with the constitutional rights and obligations of residents.
Mikeladze	The inactive ruler of the city. He did not deal with Glupov's affairs. I remember the viewer as a Casanova and a heartthrob.
Benevolensky	He wrote a large number of legislative acts that he had no right to write. He was engaged in this business underground, agitating the people to follow the new laws. For such illegal activities, the governor was fired.
Acne	Under the mayor, the city "bathed" in abundance and wealth. But Pimple's fate was tragic. His head was eaten by one of the leaders of the nobility.

Worship of mammon and repentance

Chronology of events:

• Ivanov becomes the next mayor of the city. During his reign, the inhabitants do not know poverty. But the governor is fired.
• Behind him, the post of mayor is occupied by Du-Chariault, who founded the cult of worship of pagan gods.
• After him, the state post is occupied by Sadtilov. But having taken up the duties of the mayor, he notices that the inhabitants live in debauchery.

Important! The last ruler of this chapter is arrested for non-compliance with his official duties.

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion

Events in chronological order:

• The place of the mayor is occupied by Ugryum-Burcheev.
• He introduces a strict regime in Foolov and forces the inhabitants to obey.
• After the occurrence of a natural disaster, the cruel governor disappears.

The name of the city whose “history” is offered to the reader is Foolov. There is no such city on the map of Russia and there never was one, but still it was ... And it was - everywhere. Or maybe he didn’t disappear anywhere, despite the phrase with which the chronicler ends his story: “History has stopped its course”? Can it be? And isn't that an Aesopian sly smile?

In Russian literature, the Shchedrin "chronicle" was immediately preceded by Pushkin's "History of the Village of Goryukhin". “If God sends readers to me, then maybe they will be curious to know how I decided to write the History of the village of Goryukhin” - this is how Pushkin's story begins. And here is the beginning of the text “From the publisher”, who allegedly found in the “stupid city archive” “a voluminous bundle of notebooks bearing common name"Glupovsky Chronicler" ":" For a long time already I had the intention to write the history of some city (or region) ... but various circumstances prevented this enterprise.

But the Chronicler has been found. The material collected from ancient times is at the disposal of the "publisher". In an address to the reader, he defines the content of the "History". Read the text “From the Publisher” in full, so that you are convinced that each word there is special, casts with its brilliance and merges in general brilliance with others, one fantastically real (grotesque) image, barely appearing on the page, is crowded by the next one, and the best, what can be done - to become a reader of the annals of Glupov, this city strangely familiar to all of us.

The structure of Shchedrin's most widely read work is not simple. Behind the head From the publisher» follows « Appeal to the reader»- a text written directly on behalf of the "archivist-chronicler" and stylized as the language of the 18th century.

"Author" - "the humble Pavlushka, Masloboynikov's son", the fourth archivist. Note that of the other three archivists, two are the Tryapichkins (the surname is taken from Gogol's "Inspector General": this is how Khlestakov calls his friend, "writing articles").

"On the origin of the Foolovites"

“On the Root of the Origin of the Foolovites,” the chapter that opens the “Chronicler,” begins with a fictitious quote that imitates the text of “The Tale of Igor's Campaign.” Historians N.I. Kostomarov (1817-1885) and S.M. Solovyov (1820-1879) are mentioned here because they held directly opposite views on the history of Russia and Russia: according to Kostomarov, the main thing in it was spontaneous folk activity (“a gray wolf scoured the earth”), and according to Solovyov, Russian history was created only thanks to the deeds of princes and kings (“shizy eagle swung under the clouds”).

Both points of view were alien to the writer himself. He believed that Russian statehood could only be created through an organized and conscious popular movement.

"Description to the mayors"

"Inventory to the mayors" contains explanations for further chapters and a short list of the mayors, the narratives of the board of which are developed further. One should not think that every mayor is a satirical image of one specific "autocrat". These are always generalized images, like most of the text of the “History of a City”, but there are also clear correspondences. Negodyaev - Pavel I, Alexander I - Sadtilov; Speransky and Arakcheev, close associates of Alexander I, were reflected in the characters of Benevolensky and Gloomy-Burcheev.

"Organchik"

"Organchik" is the central and most famous chapter of the book. This is the nickname of the mayor, Brodysty, generalizing the most sinister features of despotism. The word "breasty" has long been applied exclusively to dogs: a broad-haired one has a beard and mustache on the muzzle and is usually especially vicious (more often about a greyhound dog). He was named an organ because a musical instrument, a mechanism that produces just one phrase: "I will not tolerate it!" The Foolovites also call Brodystoy a scoundrel, but, Shchedrin assures, they do not attach any definite meaning to this word. This means that the word has such - this is how the writer draws your attention to this word and asks you to understand. Let's figure it out.

The word "scoundrel" appeared in Russian under Peter I from "profost" - a regimental executor (executioner) in german army, in Russian it was used until the 60s of the XIX century in the same meaning, after - the warden of military prisons. A.I. Herzen and N.P. Ogarev - Russian revolutionary publicists who published the newspaper Kolokol in London. Charles the Innocent - Organ-like character medieval history- a real-life French king, deposed as a result of his unsuccessful wars. Freemasons are freemasons, freemasons, members of the society of "freemasons", very influential in Europe since the Middle Ages.

"The Tale of the Six Mayors"

The Tale of the Six Mayors is a wonderfully written, hilariously funny, brilliant satire of eighteenth-century empresses and their temporary favorites.

The surname Paleologova is a hint at the wife of Ivan III, the daughter of the last Byzantine emperor of the Palaiologos dynasty, Sophia. It was this marriage that gave the Russian rulers reason to make Russia an empire and dream of joining Byzantium.

The name Clementine de Bourbon is a hint that the French government helped Elizabeth Petrovna ascend the Russian throne. The mention of hard-to-pronounce fictitious names of Polish cardinals here is probably a hint at the Time of Troubles and Polish intrigue in Russian history.

"News about Dvoekurov"

"News of Dvoekurov" contains allusions to the reign of Alexander I and features of his personality (duality, inconsistency of intentions and their implementation, indecision to the point of cowardice). Shchedrin emphasizes that the Foolovites owe him the obligation to consume mustard and bay leaves. Dvokurov is the ancestor of the "innovators" who waged wars "in the name of the potato." A hint of Nicholas I, son of Alexander I, who introduced potatoes in Russia during the famine of 1839-1840, which caused "potato riots" that were brutally suppressed military force until the most powerful peasant uprising in 1842.

"Hungry City"

"Hungry City" The mayor Ferdyshchenko rules over Glupovo in this and the next two chapters. After listening to the priest's teaching about Ahab and Jezebel, Ferdyshchenko promises bread to the people, and he himself summons troops to the city. Perhaps this is a hint at the "liberation" of the peasants in 1861, carried out in such a way that it caused discontent among both the landowners and the peasants who resisted the reform.

"Straw City"

"Straw City". The war between "archers" and "gunners" is described. It is known that in May 1862 the famous St. Petersburg fires took place in Apraksin Dvor. They blamed them on students and nihilists, but perhaps the fires were a provocation. The chapter is a broader generalization. It also contains allusions to the flood of 1824 in St. Petersburg.

"Fantastic Traveler"

"Fantastic Traveler" Ferdyshchenko embarks on a journey. It was the custom of Russian autocrats to embark from time to time on trips around the country, during which local authorities strongly portrayed the devotion of the people to the rulers, and the kings bestowed favors on the people, often very insignificant. So, it is known that, by order of Arakcheev, during the detour of military settlements by Alexander I, the same roasted goose was transferred from hut to hut.

"Enlightenment Wars"

“The Wars for Enlightenment” - describes the “longest and most brilliant” reign, judging by many signs, of Nicholas I. Basilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin is a collective image, like everyone else, but some features of the era clearly allude primarily to this monarch. Historian K. I. Arseniev is the mentor of Nicholas I, who traveled with him around Russia.

Campaigns on the Streltsy Sloboda again take us back to the 18th century, but generalize the periods of the next century - the struggle of the monarchs against the Freemasons, the "gentry opposition" and the Decembrists. There is also a hint, it seems, of Pushkin (the poet Fedka, who “offended” the venerable mother of Basilisk with verses). It is known that after Pushkin returned from exile in 1826, Nicholas I told him in a personal conversation: “You fooled around enough, I hope you will be reasonable now, and we will not quarrel anymore. You will send me everything that you compose, from now on I myself will be your censor.

A trip to the Navoznaya settlement implies the colonial wars of the Russian tsars. Talking about the economic crisis in Foolovo, Shchedrin names the economists of the Russky Vestnik magazine, Molinari and Bezobrazov, who passed off any position as prosperity. Finally, campaigns “against enlightenment” and “to destroy the free spirit”, dated to the year of the revolution in France (1790), point to the French Revolution of 1848 and the revolutionary events that broke out in European countries- Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary. Nicholas I introduces troops into Wallachia, Moldavia, Hungary.

"The era of dismissal from wars"

The chapter “The era of dismissal from wars” is mainly devoted to the reign of Negodyaev (Paul I), “replaced” in 1802, according to the “Inventory”, for disagreeing with Czartorysky, Stroganov and Novosiltsev. The named nobles were close advisers to Alexander, the son of the murdered emperor. It was they who stood up for the introduction of constitutional principles in Russia, but what kind of principles they were! "The era of dismissal from wars" presents these "beginnings" in their true form.

Mikaladze comes to replace Negodyaev. The surname is Georgian, and there is reason to think that this refers to Emperor Alexander I, under whom Georgia (1801), Mingrelia (1803) and Imeretia (1810) was annexed to Russia, and that he is a descendant of the “voluptuous Queen Tamara”, - a hint of his mother Catherine II. The mayor Benevolensky - the arbiter of the fate of Russia, who had a huge influence on Alexander I - M.M. Speransky. Lycurgus and the Dragon (Drákont) - ancient Greek legislators; the expressions "draconian rules", "draconian measures" became winged. Speransky was involved by the tsar in the drafting of laws.

"Substantiating Documents"

In the last part of the book - "Substantiating Documents" - there is a parody of the laws drawn up by Speransky. Benevolensky ended his career in the same way as Speransky, he was suspected of treason and exiled. There comes the power of Pimple - the mayor with a stuffed head. This is a generalizing image, and it is not for nothing that Shchedrin compares the well-being of the Foolovites under Pimple with the life of the Russians under the legendary Prince Oleg: this is how the satirist emphasizes the fictional, unprecedented nature of the described prosperity.

"Worship of mammon and repentance"

Now we are talking about the townsfolk - about the Foolovites themselves. The exclusivity of their endurance and vitality is pointed out, because they continue to exist under the mayors listed in the Chronicler. The series of the latter continues: Ivanov (Alexander I again, we are even talking about two versions of his death: compare the legend of Alexander I's voluntary renunciation of power, his staging of his death in Taganrog and secret retirement into monasticism), then - Angel Dorofeich Du-Chario (Angel is the nickname of the same monarch in circles of relatives and friends, Dorofeich - from Dorofey - the gift of God (Greek), followed by Erast Sadtilov (again Tsar Alexander I). Under various allegorical names, Alexander's beloved and their influence on his reign are listed. The appearance of a generalized image of Pfeifers (prototypes - Baroness V.Yu. von Krugener and E.F. Tatarinova) marks the beginning of the second half of the reign of Alexander I and the immersion of the "top" and society into dark mysticism and social obscurantism. repentance, the real king disappears into nowhere.

“Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion"

All this mystical rabble and delirium is dispersed by the newly re-emerged once offended officer (Gloomy-Burcheev - Arakcheev (1769-1834), "a gloomy idiot", "a monkey in a uniform", who fell out of favor under Paul I and was again called up by Alexander I). The first part of the chapter is devoted to his struggle to implement the crazy idea of ​​military settlements to maintain the army in peacetime, the second to criticism of Russian liberalism. Arakcheev, who flourished during the years of the "liberation" of the peasants from serfdom, resented Shchedrin with unscrupulousness, idealism and inconsistent caution, idle talk and a lack of understanding of realities. Russian life. The list of martyrs of the liberal idea, given in the last chapter of the book, and their deeds also includes the Decembrists, whose activities Shchedrin could not help but regard with irony, knowing Russia and realizing how fantastic the Decembrists hoped to overthrow the autocracy with the help of their secret societies and rebellion on Senate Square. The last in the series of mayors described in the Chronicler is the Archangel Stratilatovich Perechvat-Zalikhvatsky - an image that brings us back to Nicholas I. “He claimed that he was the father of his mother. Once again he expelled mustard, bay leaf and olive oil from use ... "Thus, the history of the city of Glupov in the Chronicler returns to normal. Everything in it is ready for a new cycle. This hint is especially clear in the statement of the Archangel that he is the father of his mother. Phantasmagoric grotesque is read clearly.

Concluding the story about the great book of M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, we only note that when reading it, one must keep in mind Turgenev's statement about the author: "He knew Russia better than all of us."

Source (abridged): Mikhalskaya, A.K. Literature: A basic level of: Grade 10. At 2 o'clock. Part 1: account. allowance / A.K. Mikhalskaya, O.N. Zaitsev. - M.: Bustard, 2018

In this article, we will tell you about the novel written by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, we will describe summary. "The History of a City" is a work that is a chronicle, supposedly "authentic", of the city of Glupov in the period from 1731 to 1825, which was successively composed by four archivists. The author insists on the authenticity of the "Glupovsky Chronicler" in the chapter "From the Publisher", suggesting the reader to trace how the various changes that took place in power were successively reflected in the history of Glupov. This is the main theme of the "History of a City". This work describes a series of reigns.

So, we begin our story about the novel "The History of a City" (Saltykov-Shchedrin M.E.).

Address to the reader

The Chronicler opens with an appeal to the reader, allegedly composed by the last archivist, who sees his task in depicting a correspondence, "touching", in his opinion, "to the best of the daring" authorities and "to the best of thanks" to her people. Thus, this history is essentially the history of the rule of city governors.

prehistoric times

The prehistoric chapter tells about where the Foolovites came from, what are their roots. It is narrated how the people of the bunglers defeated the kosobryukhi, onion-eaters, walrus-eaters and other neighboring tribes. But, not knowing what to do next to establish order, people went to look for the prince. They turned to more than one potential ruler, but even the most stupid of them did not want to own these people and let them go after teaching them with a rod. Then the bunglers called for an innovator thief who helped them in this matter. The prince agreed to "rule" them, but did not go to live on their land, instead of himself sending a thief-innovator. The prince himself called Golovotyapov "stupid", and this is how the name of the city appeared.

The Foolovites were a submissive people, but the neotor needed revolts in order to pacify them. However, he soon stole to the point that the prince "sent a noose" to his unfaithful slave. But even here the newcomer dodged. He killed himself with a cucumber without waiting for the noose.

The beginning of historical times

We will describe further events, their brief content. "The history of one city" continues as follows.

And the prince sent other mayors - Kalyazin, Orlov, Odoev - but they turned out to be thieves. Then the ruler himself arrived in Foolov and shouted: "I'll screw it up!" With these words, historical times began for this people.

After that comes an inventory of the mayors who ruled the city in different time. The biographies of these people are given in detail.

busty

In 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brodysty arrived in Foolov. He immediately struck the inhabitants with his reticence and sullenness, a suspicious characterization. "History of a City" describes the strange details of this person. Brodysty's only words were "I'll ruin it!" and "I will not stand it!".

The city did not know what to think until one day the clerk who came in with a report saw the following strange sight: as usual, the body of the mayor was sitting at the table, but his head, completely empty, lay on the table. Foolov was shocked by this.

Suddenly they remembered about the organ and watchmaker by the name of Baibakov, who secretly visited the mayor, and found out everything by calling him. So this story of one city got its continuation. Its essence was as follows. It turned out that in the ruler's head there was an organ that could play only two pieces of music: "I will not stand it!" and "I'll break it!". The head got damp on the road and therefore needed repair. Baibakov himself could not cope with this task, so he turned to St. Petersburg for help. From here they promised to send him a new head, which for some reason was delayed.

Anarchy

The novel "History of one city" continues. There was anarchy, the end of which came with the appearance of two mayors at once, and the same ones. These impostors measured each other's eyes. The crowd dispersed in silence. The messenger immediately arrived from the province and took them both. The Foolovites, left without a mayor, immediately fell into anarchy, which continued until the end of the next week. During this time, six mayors changed in the city. Residents rushed from Iraida Paleologova to Clementine de Bourbon, and from the latter to Amalia Stockfish.

The "History of a City" gives very unattractive images of these contenders. The claims of Iraida Lukinichna were based on the short-term activity as a mayor of her husband, Klementinka - her father, and Amalia Karlovna herself was a pompadour for some time. Even less justified were the claims to power by Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, and later by Matryonka the nostrils and Dunka the fat-footed. The Foolovites, during the breaks between hostilities taking place in the city, threw citizens from the bell tower or drowned them. But after a while they got tired of iniquity.

Dvoekurov

Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov, the new mayor, finally arrived in the city. The activities of this man in Foolov were very beneficial. According to the chronicler, he introduced brewing and mead making, and also made it mandatory to use bay leaves and mustard, he wanted to open an academy in the city.

Ferdyshchenko

Under Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko, the next ruler, Foolov prospered for six years. But in the seventh year, this mayor was "confused by a demon." He burned with love for Alenka, the coachman's wife, who refused the suitor. Then Mitka, her husband, was branded with the help of some successive measures and exiled to Siberia, and Alenka finally came to her senses. Through the sins of the mayor, a drought hit the Foolovs, and then a famine began. People began to die in droves. Then Foolovsky's patience came to an end. First, a walker was sent to Ferdyshchenko, but he did not return. Then they sent a petition to the ruler, but this also had no effect. In the end, they got to Alenka and threw her off the bell tower. Ferdyshchenko did not doze, all this time writing reports to the authorities. He was not sent bread, but a team of soldiers arrived.

Through archer Domashka, Pyotr Petrovich's next hobby, fires came to Foolov. Pushkarskaya, Bolotnaya Sloboda and Negodnitsa burned down. Again, Ferdyshchenko took a back seat, returned Domashka to the “optism” and called the team.

The reign of Peter Petrovich ended with a journey. He decided to visit the city pasture, where he was welcomed in various places by the townspeople, and also waiting for dinner. Ferdyshchenko died on the third day from overeating.

Wartkin

Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin, his successor, resolutely took up his post. Having studied the history of the city of Glupov, he found only one role model - the mayor Dvoekurov. The achievements of this ruler, however, were long forgotten, and the inhabitants stopped even sowing mustard. The new mayor first of all ordered this mistake to be corrected, and added Provence oil as a punishment. However, the Foolovites did not want to give in. Wartkin therefore had to go to Streletskaya Sloboda on a military campaign. Not everything went well on this nine-day trip. Theirs fought theirs in the dark. Many living soldiers were replaced with tin soldiers. Nevertheless, Wartkin managed to survive. Having reached the very settlement and not finding anyone there, he began to pull the houses into logs. Then the whole city surrendered.

We will describe further events, their brief content. "The history of one city" continues as follows. After that, in the history of Glupov there were several more wars that were fought for education. The rule as a whole led to the fact that the city became impoverished. The final devastation came under Negodyaev, the next mayor.

Mikeladze

Circassian Mikeladze found the Foolovs in this deplorable state. The story of one city was sad. An analysis of Mikeladze's reign suggests the following. No events were held. He was only interested in the female sex, moving away from all affairs. The city was resting at that time. As the mayor writes, the investigations were numerous, although "visible facts" are few.

Benevolensky

Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky replaced this Circassian. This mayor was a friend of Speransky. They went to seminary together. This ruler was distinguished from others by a passion for legislation. But since he did not have the right to issue his own laws, he did it secretly, in the house of a certain merchant Raspopova, and scattered his laws around the city at night. Soon, however, Benevolensky was dismissed from his post for relations with Napoleon.

Acne

Let us describe further events, their brief content. "The history of one city" continues with the appearance of the next ruler, Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He did not attend to business at all, but under him, Foolov flourished. The harvests were huge. The residents of the city were alarmed. Soon the secret of Pimple was revealed by the leader of the nobility. This lover of minced meat sensed that the head of the ruler smelled of truffles and, unable to restrain himself, attacked the stuffed head and ate it.

After that, Ivanov, a state councilor, arrived in the city. However, he turned out to be so short that he could not contain anything spacious in himself, and soon died. Vicomte de Chario, his successor, an emigrant, had fun all the time and was sent abroad by order of his superiors. Upon closer examination, this ruler turned out to be a girl.

sadilov

Then Erast Andreevich Sadtilov, state councilor, appeared. By this time the Foolovites had clung to idols, forgetting the real God. So the history of one city continued. The analysis of Sadtilov's board is as follows. Under him, the city was completely mired in laziness and debauchery. They stopped sowing, hoping for happiness, and hunger came to Foolov. Erast Andreevich was busy exclusively with daily balls. But when he met his love, everything changed dramatically. It was the wife of the pharmacist Pfeyer. This lady showed the path of goodness to Sadtilov. The wretched and holy fools, who in the old days of worshiping idols experienced hard days, became the main people in the city. The Foolovites repented, but the fields remained empty. The beau monde gathered at night to read a certain Mr. Strakhov and "admired" him. The authorities soon found out about this, and Sadtilov was removed.

Gloomy-Grumbling

Gloomy-Burcheev, the last mayor in the history of the city, was an idiot. The goal he set was to turn Foolov into Nepreklonsk with "companies", identical straight streets, houses in which identical families would live, etc. Ugryum-Burcheev thought out his plan in detail, and then proceeded to implement it. Foolov was destroyed to the ground, and now it was possible to start construction, but this was hindered by the river that lay on the way. She did not fit into the plans of Ugryum-Burcheev.

The mayor resolutely launched an offensive against her. All the garbage was put into action, all that was left of the former city, but the river turned out to be stronger - it eroded any dams. Then the mayor walked away, taking the Foolovites with him. Another place, a flat lowland, was chosen for the city, and construction began. However, something has changed.

Unfortunately, the notebooks in which this history of one city was described were lost. A fragment of it has survived, and only the denouement is given by the publisher. He writes that the sun went dark, the earth shook, "It has come." The author does not explain what exactly. The "History of a City" (Saltykov-Shchedrin) is silent about this, it only says that the "scoundrel" instantly disappeared, as if dissolving into thin air.

The novel is closed by the surviving "acquittal documents", that is, works written as a warning to the successors by various mayors: Benevolensky, Mikeladze, Borodavkin.

Frame from the film "It" (1989)

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 Stupov 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 task of the chronicler 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 ancient people 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 "volunteer" 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 and other rulers sent - Odoev, Orlov, Kalyazin - but they all turned out to be sheer thieves. Then the prince "... arrived in his own person to Foolov and shouted:" 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 Foolovsky'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 education. 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 do 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 poor, 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. Gloomy-Grumbling 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 come." 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.

retold

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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 depravity have become characteristic features foolovtsev. 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.