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Dead Souls: New Translation

By Nikolai Gogol
Series: Evergreens
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Dead Souls follows the enigmatic Chichikov as he visits landowners in a provincial Russian town with a macabre offer: to purchase the rights to deceased serfs still listed on their estates. His mysterious motives unsettle the townsfolk. This biting satire critiques social pretension and corruption in nineteenth-century Russia, showcasing Gogol's sharp comic genius.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This novel will appeal to readers interested in classic Russian literature, social satire, and sharp, character-driven storytelling.

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One of the most unusual works of nineteenth-century fiction and a poignant satire on social hypocrisy. Here presented in a brand new translation by Donald Rayfield. A perfect companion to Petersburg Tales. Both books are part of Alma Classics' Evergreen series.

One of the most unusual works of nineteenth-century fiction and a poignant satire on social hypocrisy. Here presented in a brand new translation by Donald Rayfield. A perfect companion to Petersburg Tales. Both books are part of Alma Classics' Evergreen series.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A mysterious stranger named Chichikov arrives in a small provincial Russian town and proceeds to visit a succession of landowners, making each of them an unusual and somewhat macabre proposition. He offers to buy the rights to the dead serfs who are still registered on the landowner’s estate, thus reducing their liability for taxes. It is not clear what Chichikov’s intentions are with the dead serfs he is purchasing, and despite his attempts to ingratiate himself, his strange behaviour arouses the suspicions of everyone in the town.

A biting satire of social pretensions and pomposity, Dead Souls has been revered since its original publication in 1842 as one of the funniest and most brilliant novels of nineteenth-century Russia. Its unflinching and remorseless depiction of venality in Russian society is a lasting tribute to Gogol’s comic genius.

Series: Evergreens

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Vladimir Nabokov called Gogol "a strange creature, but then genius is always strange," highlighting the author’s unique literary brilliance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781847496287

Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 May 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Alma Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Donald Rayfield

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 286g

Pages: 368

Collections

Classic Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Nikolai Gogol Series: Evergreens

About the Author

One of the leading figures in nineteenth-century Russian literature, Nikolai Gogol (1809–52) is best
known for his satirical masterpiece, Dead Souls, and humorous plays and short stories such as The
Government Inspector and The Overcoat, written in a highly original and trenchant style.

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