The 12 Chairs
Yevgeny Petrov
In Soviet Russia of the 1920s, a dying woman reveals a tantalizing secret: her family’s fortune in jewels has been hidden inside one of twelve ordinary chairs. This confession sets off a madcap treasure hunt that spans small provincial towns, the bustling streets of Moscow, and the glittering resorts of the Caucasus.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.39 on Goodreads with 24,400+ ratings
Here's what reviewers had to say:
"According to a twenty-something friend who recently immigrated to the U.S. from Russia, this 1927 satirical-comic novel is still so popular in Russia that not only has everyone read it (on their own—not in school!) but everyone quotes from it in their everyday speech."
"The funniest book ever written."
"A thousand kind of people are living in this book. Rich, poor, old, young, crafty, deceived, brave, coward, intellectual, ignorant... But the thing that brings them together is the same: pursuit of money. Ilf and Petrov successfully and colourfully portrays one of the most important passions of mankind - getting rich."
"An absolute masterpiece! This was an audiobook for me this time and while I have read it before the audio experience has just amplified my admiration to this book."
Duration - 12h 59m.
Author - Yevgeny Petrov.
Narrator - Robert Woody.
Published Date - Thursday, 01 January 2026.
Copyright - © 2025 Story House Audio ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
In Soviet Russia of the 1920s, a dying woman reveals a tantalizing secret: her family’s fortune in jewels has been hidden inside one of twelve ordinary chairs. This confession sets off a madcap treasure hunt that spans small provincial towns, the bustling streets of Moscow, and the glittering resorts of the Caucasus. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.39 on Goodreads with 24,400+ ratings Here's what reviewers had to say: "According to a twenty-something friend who recently immigrated to the U.S. from Russia, this 1927 satirical-comic novel is still so popular in Russia that not only has everyone read it (on their own—not in school!) but everyone quotes from it in their everyday speech." "The funniest book ever written." "A thousand kind of people are living in this book. Rich, poor, old, young, crafty, deceived, brave, coward, intellectual, ignorant... But the thing that brings them together is the same: pursuit of money. Ilf and Petrov successfully and colourfully portrays one of the most important passions of mankind - getting rich." "An absolute masterpiece! This was an audiobook for me this time and while I have read it before the audio experience has just amplified my admiration to this book." Duration - 12h 59m. Author - Yevgeny Petrov. Narrator - Robert Woody. Published Date - Thursday, 01 January 2026. Copyright - © 2025 Story House Audio ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:17
Introduction
Duration:00:19:19
Chapter 1: Bezenchuk and the Nymphs
Duration:00:21:54
Chapter 2: Madame Petukhov’s Demise
Duration:00:18:56
Chapter 3: The Parable of the Sinner
Duration:00:14:22
Chapter 4: The Muse of Travel
Duration:00:09:25
Chapter 5: Smooth Operator
Duration:00:18:01
Chapter 6: A Diamond Haze
Duration:00:12:24
Chapter 7: Traces of the Titanic
Duration:00:10:38
Chapter 8: The Bashful Chiseller
Duration:00:23:26
Chapter 9: Where Are Your Curls?
Duration:00:15:28
Chapter 10: The Mechanic, the Parrot, and the Fortune-teller
Duration:00:23:23
Chapter 11: The Mirror-of-Life Index
Duration:00:27:01
Chapter 12: A Passionate Woman Is a Poet’s Dream
Duration:00:15:11
Chapter 13: Breathe Deeper: You’re Excited!
Duration:00:34:42
Chapter 14: The Alliance of the Sword and Ploughshare
Duration:00:28:07
Chapter 15: A Sea of Chairs
Duration:00:05:03
Chapter 16: The Brother Berthold Schwartz Hostel
Duration:00:13:57
Chapter 17: Have Respect for Mattresses, Citizens!
Duration:00:13:20
Chapter 18: The Furniture Museum
Duration:00:19:41
Chapter 19: Voting the European Way
Duration:00:21:14
Chapter 20: From Seville to Granada
Duration:00:24:08
Chapter 21: Punishment
Duration:00:25:57
Chapter 22: Ellochka the Cannibal
Duration:00:18:28
Chapter 23: Absalom Vladimirovich Iznurenkov
Duration:00:24:03
Chapter 24: The Automobile Club
Duration:00:17:52
Chapter 25: Conversation with a Naked Engineer
Duration:00:15:21
Chapter 26: Two Visits
Duration:00:11:33
Chapter 27: The Marvellous Prison Basket
Duration:00:18:13
Chapter 28: The Hen and the Pacific Rooster
Duration:00:18:19
Chapter 29: The Author of the “Gavriliad”
Duration:00:15:04
Chapter 30: In the Columbus Theatre
Duration:00:25:52
Chapter 31: A Magic Night on the Volga
Duration:00:17:29
Chapter 32: A Shady Couple
Duration:00:15:51
Chapter 33: Expulsion from Paradise
Duration:00:12:31
Chapter 34: The Interplanetary Chess Tournament
Duration:00:34:42
Chapter 35: Et Alia
Duration:00:10:02
Chapter 36: A View of the Malachite Puddle
Duration:00:20:36
Chapter 37: The Green Cape
Duration:00:20:01
Chapter 38: Up in the Clouds
Duration:00:16:52
Chapter 39: The Earthquake
Duration:00:29:02
Chapter 40: The Treasure
Duration:00:21:45
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:29