About the book: 2010 / Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya (1896–1984) is recognized as one of the most famous and beloved actresses of Russian theater and cinema, although she played mainly in episodes and most often - negative roles. There are several reasons for this paradox: Ranevskaya’s acting talent, her human charm and brilliant wit, shown both on the screen and in life. The artist has not been with us for twenty-five years, but new collections of her jokes and aphorisms are being published. This book is written in a different genre - it is the first full-fledged biography of Ranevskaya, created by the writer M. M. Geyser based on the diaries and letters of Faina Georgievna herself and the memories of people who knew her.