"The Nose" (Russian: Нос) is a satirical short story by Nikolai Gogol written during his time living in St. Petersburg. During this time, Gogol's works were primarily focused on surrealism and the grotesque, with a romantic twist. Written between 1835 and 1836, "The Nose" tells the story of a St. Petersburg official whose nose leaves his face and develops a life of its own. "The Nose" was originally published in The Contemporary, a literary journal owned by Alexander Pushkin. The use of a ...

Gogol's 1842 novel Dead Souls, a comic masterpiece about a mysterious con man and his grotesque victims, is one of the major works of Russian literature. It was translated into English in 1942 by Bernard Guilbert Guerney; the translation was hailed by Vladimir Nabokov as "an extraordinarily fine piece of work" and is still considered the best translation of Dead Souls ever published. Long out of print, th...

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 ...

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol is a brilliantly absurd and sharply satirical short story that showcases the author's unmatched talent for blending the grotesque with biting social commentary. First published in 1836, this classic of Russian literature remains a timeless exploration of vanity, bureaucracy, identity, and the fragile foundations of social status. The story begins with an astonishing premise: Collegiate Assessor Kovalyov awakens one morning to discover that his nose has mysteriousl...

“A superb new translation” (The New Yorker) of stories that allow readers to experience the unmistakable genius of a writer who paved the way for Dostoevsky and Kafka.When Nikolai Gogol left his Ukrainian village in 1828 to seek his fortune in St. Petersburg, he began composing these marvelous stories—tales that combine the wide-eyed, credulous imagination of the peasant with the sardonic social criticism of the city-dweller.Collected here are Gogo...

“How the Steel Was Tempered” is a socialist realist novel written by Nikolai Ostrovsky (1904–1936). With 36.4 million copies sold, it is one of the best-selling books of all time and the best-selling book in the Russian language. The story follows the life of Pavel Korchagin, including his fighting in and aftermath of the Russian Civil War when he fought for the Bolsheviks during the war and was injured. The novel examines whether or not Korchagin can heal from his wounds and thus become a...

The classic satiric novel. According to Wikipedia: "Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol ( 1809 - 1852) was a Russian writer of Ukrainian ethnicity. Although his early works were heavily influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing and identity, he wrote in Russian and his works belong to the tradition of Russian literature; often called the "father of modern Russian realism," he was one of the first Russian authors to criticize his country's way of life. The novels Taras Bul'ba (1835; 1842 [revised editio...

"The Nose" is a satirical short story by Nikolai Gogol. Written between 1835 and 1836, it tells of a St. Petersburg official whose nose leaves his face and develops a life of its own.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?The theme ...

Satire. Surrealism. Social insight. Literary genius. Discover the extraordinary storytelling of Nikolai Gogol — one of the founding figures of Russian realism and a pioneer of psychological and absurdist fiction. This comprehensive edition brings together his complete novels in one authoritative volume, showcasing his unique blend of dark humor, social satire, and imaginative narrative. Gogol's writing is celebrated for: Sharp critique of bureaucracy and society Vivid and eccentric charact...

Written over the course of Leskov’s career, each story in The Enchanted Wanderer elucidates the very essence of the human condition; themes of love, despair, loneliness, and revenge are explored against the backdrop of nineteenth-century working-class Russia. Leskov deftly layers social satire and subtle criticism atop myth and fable, resulting in a richly entertaining collection.BONUS MATERIAL: This edition includes an excerpt from Jonathan Lethem...

What Is to Be Done? by Nikolai Chernyshevsky is a groundbreaking and influential novel that shaped Russian literature and revolutionary thought in the 19th century. Originally published in 1863, this philosophical and political work is a vivid portrayal of utopian ideals and the quest for societal transformation. The story centers on Vera Pavlovna, a strong-willed and independent woman who defies traditional societal norms to establish her own identity and freedom. Through her journey, the...