A widely known autobiographical story by Lev Kassil about childhood, split “in half by a gymnasium uniform belt—and Shvambrania, a country we discovered with my brother to hide from all the many hurts the old world of adults inflicted on us, in its soothing expanses.”
Brothers Oska and Lelka felt that adults ruled everything in the world: they command ships, fight wars, make real things.
And children? Children stand in the corners!
But one day everything changed… At the end of winter 1914, brothers Lelya and Oся, serving a punishment in the corner, unexpectedly discover the Great State of Shvambrania, located on the continent of the Big Tooth. Thus begins a new game—“for life”—and wondrous events unfold as the boys are swept up in a whirlwind of dizzying adventures…