Misfortune from Knowledge

The immortal comedy of A. S. Griboedov is not just an outstanding work of Russian classical literature that opens the brilliant XIX century. It is not merely a biting satire, whose characters have not faded into the past even today — who is unfamiliar with modern Famusovs and Molchalins, as well as Chatskys. It is not simply a priceless treasure trove of winged words and expressions, keenly picked up by the ears of compatriots — we effortlessly understand each other, casually throwing phrases like: «Let us be spared more than all sorrows and the lord's wrath, and lordly love», «The tale is fresh, but it is hard to believe», «We are making noise, brother, we are making noise!»; we know exactly what it means to read like a churchwarden, even though many have never seen a churchwarden in their lives, and we will not be mistaken in identifying who Princess Maria Alexyevna is, even though Griboedov did not bring her on stage.
«Misfortune from Knowledge» is, without exaggeration — a fundamental element of our cultural code, something that unites those who speak and think in Russian.
The book's canonical text is successfully complemented by the most famous critical analysis of it — «A Million Torments» by I. A. Goncharov, included in the program for in-depth study of Russian literature. The magnificent colorful illustrations by D. N. Kardovsky, characterized by careful rendering of faces and details of interiors and costumes, will help the reader visually represent the characters.