Who Would Like This Book:
If you think Russian novels are all heavy and joyless, Dead Souls will surprise you! Gogol's witty, absurd, and often laugh-out-loud satire skewers bureaucracy, greed, and hypocrisy in 19th-century Russia through the oddball adventures of Chichikov, a delightfully shifty con man. The book brims with colorful side characters and clever observations, making it a treat for fans of classic literature, satire, or anyone who loves quirky, character-driven stories. If you enjoyed Dickens or Twain's social commentaries, or you'd like a sharply-written, still-relevant take on human folly, this one's for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Those hoping for a fast-paced plot or a neat, tied-up ending might be frustrated here. The book's unfinished state leaves major threads dangling, especially in the fragmented second part. Gogol's digressive style can sometimes feel meandering or overly long, and the constant asides and character sketches might lose readers looking for a straightforward story arc. If you want action or resolution over style and wit, Dead Souls may try your patience.
About:
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol is a satirical novel set in the nineteenth century Russian countryside, following the protagonist, Chichikov, on his quest to purchase deceased serfs' names in order to deceive landowners and acquire wealth. The book offers a humorous yet chilling commentary on social class, ownership, and deception, intertwined with clever writing and character sketches that provide insight into Russian society at the time.
Despite being an unfinished work, Dead Souls is celebrated as a classic of Russian literature, blending realism and symbolism to create a multi-layered narrative that delves into the complexities of Russian society. Gogol's writing style is praised for its wit, rich descriptions, and satirical portrayal of characters, showcasing his talent for blending humor with social commentary in a way that transcends time and borders.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Dead Souls include themes of social and moral corruption, critique of serfdom, and the depiction of death and decay, which may not be suitable for all readers.
From The Publisher:
An NYRB Classics Original
The first of the great Russian novels and one of the indisputable masterpieces of world literature, Dead Souls is the tale of Chichikov, an affably cunning con man who causes consternation in a small Russian town when he shows up out of nowhere proposing to buy title to serfs who, though dead as doornails, are still property on paper. What can he have up his sleeve, the local landowners wonder, even as some rush to unload what isn't of any use to them anyway, while others seek to negotiate the best deal possible, and others yet hold on to their dead for dear life, since if somebody wants what you have then no matter what don't give it away. Chichikov's scheme soon encounters obstacles, but he is never without resource, and as he stumbles forward as best he can, Gogol paints a wonderfully comic picture of Russian life that also serves as a biting satire of a society as corrupt as it is cynical and silly. At once a wild phantasmagoria and a work of exacting realism, Dead Souls is a supremely living work of art that spills over with humor and passion and absurdity.
Ratings (39)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (15) | |
Liked It (9) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (110):
Read It (42) | |
Want To Read (55) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (11) |
What can you read after
Dead Souls?
About the Author:
Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol was born in 1809; his family belonged to a minor gentry of Ukrainian Cossack extraction, and his father was the author of a number of plays based on Ukrainian popular tales. He attended school in Nézhin and gained…
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