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Article: Communism no laughing matter, but jokes were
- Article from:
- Winnipeg Free Press
- Article date:
- July 6, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright F.P. Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership Jul 6, 2008. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The Economist
Jokes under Soviet communism were not just a welcome contrast to the dreariness of everyday life; they also helped undermine it. For example: "How do you deal with mice in the Kremlin?" "Put up a sign saying 'collective farm'. Then half the mice will starve and the others will run away."
Ben Lewis has collated some of the best, and best-known, jokes that were told under more than seven decades of communist rule. His work is based on more than 40 previously published collections ranging from underground selections, to those published by anti-communist emigr ©s, and a large sprinkling that appeared after 1989, once it was safe to air them.
Most make you giggle and groan in equal ...