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The dead souls (1842)

by Nikolai Gogol

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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9,181120854 (3.95)1 / 342
Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Dead Souls is a socially critical black comedy. Set in Russia before the emancipation of serfs in 1861, the "dead souls" are dead serfs still being counted by landowners as property, as well as referring to the landowners' morality. Through surreal and often dark comedy, Gogol criticizes Russian society after the Napoleonic Wars. He intended to also offer solutions to the problems he satirized, but died before he ever completed the second part of what was intended to be a trilogy. The work famously ends mid-sentence.

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 Fans of Russian authors: Dead Souls21 unread / 21vanjr, March 2019

» See also 342 mentions

English (91)  Dutch (6)  Italian (6)  Spanish (4)  French (3)  Catalan (2)  Esperanto (1)  Finnish (1)  Portuguese (1)  Swedish (1)  Hebrew (1)  All languages (117)
Showing 1-5 of 91 (next | show all)
To be clear, Volume one of this book is a 5 star work, no question about it, and I would venture to guess it is solely upon this part of the book that Dead Souls reputation as a classic rests. So rare is it to find a work of art, even among the very best works, where you feel like the creator is right there with you, leading you along the winding path of their work, and you are able to completely relinquish yourself to the process of absorbing what they have made. Gogol achieves this effect in Vol. 1. This was clearly an artist that felt no pressure to make his story conform to any convention, and simply follows his interests towards wherever they might take them. Interspersed with extremely funny scenes (all the more impressive for having survived 200 years of interceding time as well as translation across culture and language) we get meditation on the psychology of humanity, reflections on the state of Russia, and beautifully vibrant descriptions of scenes and landscapes. The plot isn’t of great importance here as each new encounter Chichikov has with the sundry noblemen and landowners he meets along the way follow the same general pattern - what makes this a classic is the probably the same thing that raises every good story to the level of real art - the keen eye and capacious intellect of the artist.

I’m far from the first to think Vol. 2 is a big drop off - that’s general consensus it seems. Besides the fact that this part of the book seems only partially finished (so much so that my edition included more than a dozen footnotes denoting blank spaces in the manuscript or errors in continuity) it also loses the gleeful cynicism that makes Vol. 1 so funny and relatable, as people haven’t changed much in the intervening couple of centuries. Wikipedia tells me Gogol was a conservative, although like all the best satires, the political perspective of the creator isn’t important when it’s done right. Vol. 2 it’s easier to see where he was coming from, when Chichikov gets his comeuppance for all his slimy wheeling and dealing. Apparently Dead Souls was meant to be a kind of Divine Comedy, with Chichikov making his way from a good for nothing shister to a pious example of Russian morality. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not so interested in this transformation, nor do I think writing this kind of story is where Gogol’s talent lies. There are a few scenes where the inspiration of Vol. 1 shines through, but not enough to save it from dragging. ( )
  hdeanfreemanjr | Jan 29, 2024 |
An intriguing, unfinished book (there are two volumes, with the second unfinished, and unreleasedin Gogol's lifetime). A satirical novel which explores Russian society, and particularly the ruling and landownding classes, in the early 19th century. In general, they are depicted as being some combination of weak, venal, idiotic, criminal, mean, gluttonous, etc., etc. It's pretty scathing, but in an cheery, good-natured way.

The main character, Chichikov, has a huge amount of energy and ambition for making his fortune through shady schemes. The main one he pursues through the book is the purchasing of dead peasants (the "Dead Souls" of the title) from estate owners - presumably so he could mortgage them, although that's not entirely clear (and I hoped, as I was reading, for a more creative use to reveal itself).

The book is sprawling, and kinda overlong by modern standards, but definitely has a modern feel to it. It is playful, and genuinely funny in parts.

The second volume is unfinished, and it is very strange reading a story that has unfinished sentences and, larger and larger chunks missing as you get toward the end. Your interest necessarily wanes, until you and the book just drift away from each other. It's like a amicable, mutual break-up. ( )
  thisisstephenbetts | Nov 25, 2023 |
This book by Nikolai Gogol is a classic. Beware, though, it is a challenging book to read. It is challenging because we use simpler language and sentence structures today compared to the nineteenth century. Be patient while reading the book. Patience will reward you.
Gogol creates a rich tapestry of life in the 19th century and creates fascinating portraits of all the main characters involved. Our hero, Chichikov, stands out because he is out to buy 'dead souls,' or the lists of all dead serfs.
This unusual endeavour and his escapades excite the townspeople, who gossip about him. Rumours fly, and he flees. Part Two, which Gogol did not complete, continues with the tale a few years later.
The book is an allegory about society, and all that is possibly wrong with it. He does not preach, but when you read the book, you may see parallels with modern society,

Nothing has changed.

Read the book, and enjoy the poetry of a master. ( )
  RajivC | Nov 20, 2023 |
A grande obra-prima de Gógol, romance publicado pela primeira vez em 1842, no qual o autor, considerado o fundador da moderna literatura russa, elabora um retrato ao mesmo tempo lírico e satírico de seu país de adoção. O livro traz a história de Tchítchikov, um especulador de São Petersburgo que viaja pelo interior da Rússia adquirindo dos nobres locais documentos de posse dos servos (ou "almas") que já morreram, algo sem valor na província, mas papéis que poderiam dar a seu comprador um novo status diante da alta sociedade da capital. Baseada na mais recente edição crítica russa, a brilhante tradução de Rubens Figueiredo é acompanhada de quatro textos de Gógol comentando a redação do romance e um ensaio assinado por Donald Fanger, professor emérito da Universidade de Harvard, que analisa em detalhe toda a genialidade da prosa do autor.
  Camargos_livros | Aug 28, 2023 |
This edition of Gogol's classic satire includes both volume one and the surviving fragments of volume two. It also includes a very useful set of footnotes to provide background on the Russian/Ukrainian words and customs.

The story itself is wonderfully readable and full of richly developed entertaining characters. I found volume two more interesting than volume one and was sad to learn that only fragments survive of the second volume. ( )
  M_Clark | Dec 16, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 91 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (113 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gogol, NikolaiAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Andreyev, NikolayIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Conrad, BarbaraAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Eliasberg, AlexanderTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Güell, Josep MariaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hapgood, Isabel FlorenceTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hogarth, D.J.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kalima, JaloTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Laín Entralgo, JoséEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
MacAndrew, Andrew R.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Magarshack, DavidTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Maguire, RobertTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Matic, PeterNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Noordzij, GerritCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
O'Connor, FrankForewordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Odets, CliffordIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ottow, FredTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pevear, RichardTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pevear, RichardIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pfeiffer, MichaelTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Praag, S. vanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Prina, SerenaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Prins, AaiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rayfield, DonaldIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rayfield, DonaldTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Röhl, HermannTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Skott, StaffanTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tchernova, IreneTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Timmer, Charles B.Translatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Volokhonsky, LarissaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wal, Theo J. van derTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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A small, rather smart, well-sprung four-wheeled carriage with a folding top drove through the gates of an inn of the provincial town of N.; it was the sort of carriage bachelors usually drive in: retired lieutenant-colonels, majors, and landowners with about a hundred serfs – in short, all those who are described as gentlemen of the 'middling' station of life.
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Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML:

Dead Souls is a socially critical black comedy. Set in Russia before the emancipation of serfs in 1861, the "dead souls" are dead serfs still being counted by landowners as property, as well as referring to the landowners' morality. Through surreal and often dark comedy, Gogol criticizes Russian society after the Napoleonic Wars. He intended to also offer solutions to the problems he satirized, but died before he ever completed the second part of what was intended to be a trilogy. The work famously ends mid-sentence.

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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NYRB Classics

2 editions of this book were published by NYRB Classics.

Editions: 1590173767, 1590176553

Yale University Press

An edition of this book was published by Yale University Press.

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