The story follows Chichikov, a middle-aged gentleman who cunningly ingratiates himself with local officials and landowners in a small town. His peculiar mission involves acquiring "dead souls," which are deceased serfs still listed as property, reflecting a satirical exploration of social and moral issues in 19th-century Russia. Through Chichikov's interactions and schemes, the narrative delves into themes of greed, bureaucracy, and the absurdities of societal norms.
The book features "Taras Bulba" alongside other tales, highlighting its significance in literary history. Alpha Editions has meticulously reformatted and retyped the content to enhance clarity and readability, ensuring that this classic work remains accessible to contemporary and future readers. The effort to preserve its legacy reflects the timeless nature of its themes and storytelling.
Una colección completa de la obra del gran escritor ruso Nikolay Gogol, uno de los más importantes e influyentes autores de la literatura universal. Esta magnífica edición, traducida al inglés por la destacada experta en literatura rusa Constance Black Garnett, reúne todas las novelas, cuentos y obras de teatro de Gogol, junto con una selección de ensayos y artículos críticos. Escrito con una aguda sensibilidad social y una inteligencia mordaz e irónica, el trabajo de Gogol ha dejado una huella indeleble en la historia literaria mundial.
In a whimsical and surreal scene, a character displays remarkable agility by leaping onto another's shoulders and playfully striking him with a broom, prompting a spirited escape. This moment captures the blend of humor and fantasy characteristic of Gogol's work, showcasing his unique storytelling style. The narrative hints at themes of unexpected encounters and the absurdity of human behavior, inviting readers into a world where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.
The book is a faithful reproduction of the original work, preserving its content and style. It offers readers an authentic experience of the text as it was originally presented, making it a valuable resource for those interested in historical literature or classic works. This edition aims to maintain the integrity of the original while providing accessibility to modern audiences.
Exploring the rich tapestry of Ukrainian and St. Petersburg life, this collection showcases the diverse storytelling of Nikolai Gogol, a pivotal figure in Russian realism. It features iconic works such as "The Fair at Sorochintsï," "The Viy," and "The Overcoat," highlighting Gogol's blend of humor and horror. Accompanied by a thoughtful afterword and a biographical timeline, this edition offers insights into Gogol's influence and the significance of his narratives, making it a compelling read for literature enthusiasts.
The Inspector General : A satirical play by the Russian and Ukrainian dramatist Nikolai Gogol
110 pages
4 hours of reading
Set in a small Russian town, corrupt officials are thrown into chaos upon hearing of an incognito inspector's imminent arrival. In a twist of fate, they mistake Khlestakov, a fanciful civil servant, for the inspector. Unaware of the mix-up, Khlestakov revels in the officials' fear, enjoying their hospitality and demanding money while engaging in flirtations with the Mayor's family. This satirical play by Nikolai Gogol explores themes of deception, social status, and the absurdity of authority.
The tales collected in The Nose and Other Stories are among the greatest
achievements of world literature. They showcase Nikolai Gogol's vivid,
haunting imagination: an encounter with evil in a darkened church, a
downtrodden clerk who dreams only of a new overcoat, a nose that falls off a
face and reappears around town on its own.
Iconic short stories from the Russian master of satire, in a strikingly modern translation "The most morally complete writer: baffled, outraged, reverent, mock-didactic, mocking, all at once. He honours life by feeling no one way about it." — George Saunders No writer has captured the absurdity of the human condition as acutely as Nikolai Gogol. In a lively new translation by Oliver Ready, this collection contains his great classic stories - "The Overcoat", "The Nose" and "Diary of a Madman" — alongside lesser known gems depicting life in the Russian and Ukrainian countryside. Together, they reveal Gogol's marvelously skewed perspective, moving between the urban and the rural with painfully sharp humour and scorching satire. Strikingly modern in his depictions of society's shambolic structures, Gogol plunders the depths of bureaucratic and domestic banalities to unearth moments of dark comedy and outrageous corruption. Defying categorisation, the stories in this collection range from the surreal to the satirical to the grotesque, united in their exquisite psychological acuteness and tender insights into the bizarre irrationalities of the human soul.
