The Little Golden Calf

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.