Dead Souls A Novel
Dead Souls A Novel by Nikolai Gogol is a 2nd Edition published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group on March 25, 1997. This edition presents Gogol’s work as a realistic portrayal of provincial Russian life, blending elements of satire and historical fiction. The narrative follows Chichikov, a cunning antihero who navigates the countryside in search of “dead souls”—deceased serfs that still hold monetary value. Through Chichikov’s dealings, readers encounter a diverse cast of characters, including peasants, landowners, and petty officials, each reflecting the complexities of Russian society.
In this lively English translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, the novel’s humor and exploration of human folly are brought to life. The text delves into themes of imperial Russian corruption and societal absurdities, showcasing Gogol’s sharp wit and keen observations. With 432 pages, this edition invites readers to engage with a classic that balances both a critique of and an homage to the Russian spirit, making it a significant work in the realm of fiction and satire.
Official synopsis Publisher
Since its publication in 1842, Dead Souls has been celebrated as a supremely realistic portrait of provincial Russian life and as a splendidly exaggerated tale; as a paean to the Russian spirit and as a remorseless satire of imperial Russian venality, vulgarity, and pomp. As Gogol’s wily antihero, Chichikov, combs the back country wheeling and dealing for “dead souls”–deceased serfs who still represent money to anyone sharp enough to trade in them–we are introduced to a Dickensian cast of peasants, landowners, and conniving petty officials, few of whom can resist the seductive illogic of Chichikov’s proposition. This lively, idiomatic English version by the award-winning translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky makes accessible the full extent of the novel’s lyricism, sulphurous humor, and delight in human oddity and error.
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