The Little Golden Calf

Summary

The Little Golden Calf is a satirical novel about the adventures of the con artist Ostap Bender, who assembles a team of four swindlers to claim the inheritance of the underground millionaire Koreiko. Ostap skillfully manipulates people and situations to achieve his goal, but ultimately his plans fall apart. The novel is filled with wit, sarcasm, and criticism of the social vices of Soviet society in the 1930s.

Main Ideas

• Critique of Soviet society, especially bureaucracy and the newly formed Soviet intelligentsia
• Mockery of pseudo-heroic qualities such as cynicism, greed, and deceit
• Exploration of the theme of illusion and reality among Soviet citizens in the post-NEP era
• Depiction of the duplicity and greed that permeated all layers of society

Historical Context and Significance

The Little Golden Calf is a satirical novel written by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov, originally published in 1931. It is a sequel to the novel The Twelve Chairs. Extremely popular in Russian literature, it is considered one of the greatest achievements of Soviet satire. The book sharply criticizes the new Soviet reality, exposing the deceit and moral vices of people striving to enrich themselves during the NEP era. The novel had a significant impact on the development of the Russian language and culture, contributing several catchphrases to everyday speech.

Main Characters and Their Development

• Ostap Bender - the main character, an adventurer and con artist. At the beginning of the book, he dreams of wealth and an easy life. Throughout the plot, he orchestrates numerous scams to acquire money. His character is revealed as charismatic, intelligent, and resourceful, yet also cynical and ruthless. By the end of the book, he achieves his goal but realizes that money does not bring him happiness.
• Shura Balaganov - one of Ostap Bender's companions, a petty swindler. At the beginning of the book, he is portrayed as a naive and trusting person who is easily influenced by Ostap. Throughout the plot, he learns from Ostap and becomes more cunning and calculating. However, despite this, he remains a loyal and devoted friend.
• Adam Kozlevich - the driver and owner of the car "Antelope Gnu." At the beginning of the book, he is an honest and hardworking man who accidentally gets involved in Ostap's adventures. Throughout the plot, he gradually participates in the scams but maintains his honesty and integrity. His character is revealed as kind and compassionate.
• Alexander Ivanovich Koreiko - the underground millionaire whom Ostap Bender tries to blackmail. At the beginning of the book, he is portrayed as a modest and inconspicuous person leading a double life. Throughout the plot, his greed and cowardice are revealed. By the end of the book, he loses all his money and is left with nothing.

Style and Technique

The Little Golden Calf, written by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov, is a satirical novel in which the authors mock the new economic policy and social order of the Soviet Union in the early 1930s. The text is rich with wordplay, parodies, and allusions, making the style exceptionally ironic and witty. The structure of the novel is divided into several episodes, each developing the plot and revealing the characters through their adventures and interactions. The authors use grotesque and exaggeration to create comedic situations and character traits, enhancing the satirical tone of the novel.

Quotes

• A car is not a luxury, but a means of transportation.
• All smuggling is done in Odessa on Malaya Arnautskaya Street.
• Foreign lands will help us!
• Kisa, I've long wanted to ask you as an artist to an artist: can you draw?
• The ice has broken, gentlemen of the jury!
• I declare the simultaneous game on thirty-two boards open!
• Shura, are you a Komsomol member?
• Ah, it's good to live in the Soviet country!

Interesting Facts

• The book is a sequel to the novel The Twelve Chairs and continues the adventures of Ostap Bender.
• In this book, Ostap Bender dreams of Rio de Janeiro and aims to gather money for a trip there.
• The novel satirizes various aspects of Soviet reality, including bureaucracy and corruption.
• One of the main characters, Alexander Ivanovich Koreiko, is an underground millionaire, which becomes the focus of Ostap Bender's interest.
• The book was co-authored with Yevgeny Petrov.
• The novel was first published in 1931 and quickly became popular among readers.
• Many phrases from the book became catchphrases, such as "Foreign lands will help us" and "The ice has broken, gentlemen of the jury!"

Book Review

The Little Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov is a satirical novel that continues the adventures of Ostap Bender, begun in The Twelve Chairs. Critics note that the book masterfully ridicules the vices of Soviet society in the 1920s-1930s, such as bureaucracy, corruption, and greed. The authors create vivid and memorable characters, and their wit and sarcasm make the novel not only socially significant but also incredibly engaging. Special attention is given to the character of Ostap Bender, who, despite his amorality, evokes sympathy from readers due to his intelligence, charisma, and resourcefulness. Critics also emphasize that The Little Golden Calf is an important historical document, reflecting the spirit of the time and the peculiarities of Soviet reality.