The book, telling about the adventures of the baron, was published in England in 1875. Before that, an anonymous publication about the same historical figure circulated among readers. Its hero looked like a character with extremely negative traits—a self-satisfied Prussian landowner, an arrogant show-off, a limited liar. Raspe turned Münchhausen into a likeable fellow, and his name became proverbial. Meanwhile, the baron is a fully real historical person. Hieronymus Karl Friedrich Münchhausen was born in Germany on May 11, 1720, and lived—despite his incredible adventures—until the age of 77. For several years, he served in the Russian army, taking part in wars against the Turks. After retiring, the baron became famous as a storyteller of extraordinary stories and even published a book, “A Guide for Fun-Lovers.” His lifetime fame as a teller and fabricator brought Münchhausen only troubles and misfortunes. Relatives turned away from him, accusing the baron of having disgraced their name. But he remained in literature and in our consciousness as an never-sad, cheerful man.