freedonia
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freedonia
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From 'A Dictionary of Imaginary Places' by Manguel and Guadalupi, pub Bloomsbury 1999:
FREEDONIA,
a small European country to the north of SYINANIA. The capital is also known
as Freedonia, a small city characterized by its picturesque, steeply pitched
roofs and tall steeples. Most of the country is devoted to agriculture.
Economically, the most important figure in the country is the stout and wealthy
widow Mrs. Gloria Teasedale, known to cover a lot of Freedonian ground; her
fortune is the power behind the government. Because of her financial status
she was able to demand the resignation of the administration of President Zandor,
insisting that she would lend more money to Freedonia only if the celebrated
Rufus T. Firefly were appointed president. Firefly was accordingly made president
and at once began to rule in his characteristically flamboyant manner. Although
Firefly was immediately popular with the people of Freedonia, his behaviour
and attitude led to the resignation of some of his ministers.
Nor was his appointment to the taste of neighbouring Sylvania or its ambassador
Trentino. For some years Sylvania had been trying to subvert the economy and
politics of Freedonia and Firefly's appointment was seen as an obstacle to these
plans, as well as to Trentino's marrying Mrs. Teasedale, as Rufus T. Firefly
had offered her a roofus over her head if she became his wife. Attempts to have
Firefly seduced by a dancer failed - even though he announced his intention
of dancing with the cows until she came home as did Trentino's attempts to steal
certain State secrets. Eventually an exchange of insults between Firefly and
Trentino - during which Firefly called Trentino, a baboon, a swine, a worm,
and an upstart - led to the declaration of war and the invasion of Freedonia.
Although it initially seemed that the victory would go to the invaders, matters
changed when Trentino himself was captured during an attack on the Sylvanian
headquarters and was forced to surrender after having been sadly humiliated
by Firefly.
(Duck Soup, directed by Leo McCarey, USA, 1933)