The Twelve Chairs

The Twelve Chairs is a brilliant satire of the early years of the Soviet Union, originally published in 1928 by Soviet authors Ilf and Petrov.

The novel follows Ippolit Matveyevich Vorobyaninov, a former nobleman, who learns from his dying mother-in-law that family jewels were sewn into one of twelve dining room chairs before they were confiscated by the Communists.

Partnering with the charming con-man Ostap Bender, Vorobyaninov embarks on a picaresque journey across the Soviet Union to recover the treasure, encountering opportunistic bureaucrats and other colorful characters along the way.

The novel was adapted into a 1970 film by director Mel Brooks.