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楔懈薪械谢褜
袩芯胁械褋褌褜 袧懈泻芯谢邪褟 袙邪褋懈谢褜械胁懈褔邪 袚芯谐芯谢褟 "楔懈薪械谢褜" 鈥� 褝褌芯 锌芯胁械褋褌胁芯胁邪薪懈械 芯 卸懈蟹薪懈 斜械写薪芯谐芯, 蟹邪屑泻薪褍褌芯谐芯 胁 褋械斜械 褔懈薪芯胁薪懈泻邪 袗泻邪泻懈褟 袗泻邪泻懈械胁懈褔邪 袘邪褕屑邪褔泻懈薪邪. 袣邪卸写褘泄 写械薪褜 械屑褍 锌褉懈褏芯写懈褌褋褟 褌械褉锌械褌褜 芯褋泻芯褉斜谢械薪懈褟 懈 懈蟹写械胁邪褌械谢褜褋褌胁邪 芯褌 褋芯褋谢褍卸懈胁褑械胁, 懈 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪薪褘屑 褋屑褘褋谢芯屑 卸懈蟹薪懈 写谢褟 薪械谐芯 褋褌邪薪芯胁懈褌褋褟 薪芯胁邪褟 褕懈薪械谢褜.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1842
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About the author
Nikolai Gogol
1,833听books5,351听followersPeople consider that Russian writer Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (袧懈泻芯谢邪泄 袙邪褋懈谢褜械胁懈褔 袚芯谐芯谢褜) founded realism in Russian literature. His works include
The Overcoat
(1842) and
Dead Souls
(1842).
Ukrainian birth, heritage, and upbringing of Gogol influenced many of his written works among the most beloved in the tradition of Russian-language literature. Most critics see Gogol as the first Russian realist. His biting satire, comic realism, and descriptions of Russian provincials and petty bureaucrats influenced later Russian masters Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, and especially Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Gogol wittily said many later Russian maxims.
Gogol first used the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works The Nose , Viy , The Overcoat , and Nevsky Prospekt . Ukrainian upbringing, culture, and folklore influenced his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka .
His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian empire in Dead Souls .
Ukrainian birth, heritage, and upbringing of Gogol influenced many of his written works among the most beloved in the tradition of Russian-language literature. Most critics see Gogol as the first Russian realist. His biting satire, comic realism, and descriptions of Russian provincials and petty bureaucrats influenced later Russian masters Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, and especially Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Gogol wittily said many later Russian maxims.
Gogol first used the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works The Nose , Viy , The Overcoat , and Nevsky Prospekt . Ukrainian upbringing, culture, and folklore influenced his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka .
His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian empire in Dead Souls .
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December 17, 2022
丕賱亘賯丕亍 賱賱丕賯賵賶貨兀賵 賱賱丕賵賯丨..丕賵 賱賱丕爻賵兀..賱賲 賷毓丿 賴賳丕賰 丕賷 賮丕乇賯 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰賵賰亘 丕賱亘睾賷囟..賴匕丕 賴賵 丕賱廿丨爻丕爻 丕賱賲乇 丕賱匕賷 爻賷鬲亘賯賶 賮賷 丨賱賯賰 亘毓丿 23氐賮丨丞 賴賷 賲噩賲賱 賴匕賴
丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷丞 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞 毓賳 丕賱賯賴乇 賵 賱丕 卮賷亍 爻賵丕賴
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賱賱鬲囟丕丐賱..賵 賱賷爻 丕賱鬲賮丕賳賷
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賴賵 賲賳 丕賱胤乇丕夭 禺賮賷囟 丕賱氐賵鬲
..噩賲 丕賱丕丿亘..丕賱匕賷 賱賵 賮賰乇 賮賷 丕賱賲胤丕賱亘丞 亘丨賯賴貨丕匕賳 賮賴賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賱丕 賲丨丕賱丞
賷賯毓 賮乇賷爻丞 賱鬲毓丕賱賶 賵 爻禺乇賷丞 賰賱 賲賳 丨賵賱賴
賵 賱賰賳 丕賴賲 賲丕 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞 :丕賱毓丕亘 丕賱囟賲賷乇 丕賱亘睾賷囟丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 賳賳賯丕丿 禺賱賮賴丕 賵 賳爻鬲爻賱賲 賱賴丕 賰孬賷乇丕
丕賱睾乇賷亘 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱丕賯氐賵氐丞 丕賳賰 爻鬲乇賶 賳賮爻賰 " 丕賱賲賵馗賮 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇 "丕丕賱匕賷 賱丕 鬲賰鬲賲賱 賮乇丨鬲賴 丕亘丿丕
賵 丕賷囟丕 爻鬲噩丿 賳賮爻賰 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賷乇賷賳 賵 夭賲賱丕丐賴 丕賱賲鬲丨乇卮賷賳 ..賵 丕賱鬲乇夭賷 丕賱爻賰賷乇 .. 賵 賱賵 賰賳鬲 賲賲賳 賷爻鬲禺丿賲賵賳 噩賲賱丞 "丕賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 賲毓 賲賳 鬲鬲丨丿孬 "爻鬲賮賰乇 賲乇丕乇丕 賯亘賱 賳胤賯賴丕
噩毓賱鬲賳賷 丕賱賯氐丞 丕禺噩賱 丕賳賳賷 丕賲鬲賱賰 賲毓胤賮賷賳 賱丕 丕乇鬲丿賷賴賲丕 丕亘丿丕..賱丨乇丕乇丞 亘賱丕丿賳丕 丕賱丿丕卅賲丞 馃敟
丕賱賲賳丨賶 丕賱賮丕賳鬲丕夭賷 丕賱兀禺賷乇 賷丐賰丿 丕鬲 賵丕賯毓賳丕 賱丕 賷丨鬲賲賱 毓賵丿丞 丕賱丨賯賵賯 賱兀氐丨丕亘賴丕..
賵 賴賳丕 鬲丕鬲賷 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 丕賱賰丕賲賳丞 賮賷 乇賲夭賷丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮..賮賲賳亘毓 爻毓丕丿鬲賳丕 賴賵 丿丕卅賲丕 丕氐賱 卮賯丕丐賳丕
丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷丞 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞 毓賳 丕賱賯賴乇 賵 賱丕 卮賷亍 爻賵丕賴
賵 賳丨賳 賴賳丕 賲毓 噩賵噩賵賱..爻賷丿 丕賱兀丿亘 丕賱賵馗賷賮賷 毓亘乇 丕賱毓氐賵乇.. 賵 丕賱匕賷 賷賵囟丨 賱賳丕 亘丕賷噩丕夭 ..丕賱賶 丕賷 賲丿賶 鬲禺鬲賮賷 丕賱賮馗丕馗丞 丕賱賵丨卮賷丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲賴匕賷亘 丕賱乇丕賯賷!!賵 賷丨賰賲 毓賱賶 亘胤賱賴 賲賳匕 亘丿丕賷丞 丿禺賵賱賴"賰賲丕 賱賵 賰丕賳 匕亘丕亘丞 胤丕乇鬲 毓亘乇 賯丕毓丞 丕賱丕爻鬲賯亘丕賱"丕馃悳
噩毓賱賴 賲孬丕賱丕 賱賱囟毓丞.. 賵 賱賷爻 丕賱鬲賵丕囟毓
賱賱鬲囟丕丐賱..賵 賱賷爻 丕賱鬲賮丕賳賷
賲賵馗賮 賮賷 丕賱禺賲爻賷賳 賲賳 毓賲乇賴..賱丿賷賴 丕禺鬲賷丕乇 丕賲丕 丕賳 賷噩賵毓 丕賵 賷鬲丿賮丕
賴賵 賲賳 丕賱胤乇丕夭 禺賮賷囟 丕賱氐賵鬲
..噩賲 丕賱丕丿亘..丕賱匕賷 賱賵 賮賰乇 賮賷 丕賱賲胤丕賱亘丞 亘丨賯賴貨丕匕賳 賮賴賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賱丕 賲丨丕賱丞
賷賯毓 賮乇賷爻丞 賱鬲毓丕賱賶 賵 爻禺乇賷丞 賰賱 賲賳 丨賵賱賴
賵 賱賰賳 丕賴賲 賲丕 賮賷 丕賱賯氐丞 :丕賱毓丕亘 丕賱囟賲賷乇 丕賱亘睾賷囟丞 丕賱鬲賷 賯丿 賳賳賯丕丿 禺賱賮賴丕 賵 賳爻鬲爻賱賲 賱賴丕 賰孬賷乇丕
丕賱睾乇賷亘 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱丕賯氐賵氐丞 丕賳賰 爻鬲乇賶 賳賮爻賰 " 丕賱賲賵馗賮 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇 "丕丕賱匕賷 賱丕 鬲賰鬲賲賱 賮乇丨鬲賴 丕亘丿丕
賵 丕賷囟丕 爻鬲噩丿 賳賮爻賰 賮賷 丕賱賲丿賷乇賷賳 賵 夭賲賱丕丐賴 丕賱賲鬲丨乇卮賷賳 ..賵 丕賱鬲乇夭賷 丕賱爻賰賷乇 .. 賵 賱賵 賰賳鬲 賲賲賳 賷爻鬲禺丿賲賵賳 噩賲賱丞 "丕賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 賲毓 賲賳 鬲鬲丨丿孬 "爻鬲賮賰乇 賲乇丕乇丕 賯亘賱 賳胤賯賴丕
噩毓賱鬲賳賷 丕賱賯氐丞 丕禺噩賱 丕賳賳賷 丕賲鬲賱賰 賲毓胤賮賷賳 賱丕 丕乇鬲丿賷賴賲丕 丕亘丿丕..賱丨乇丕乇丞 亘賱丕丿賳丕 丕賱丿丕卅賲丞 馃敟
丕賱賲賳丨賶 丕賱賮丕賳鬲丕夭賷 丕賱兀禺賷乇 賷丐賰丿 丕鬲 賵丕賯毓賳丕 賱丕 賷丨鬲賲賱 毓賵丿丞 丕賱丨賯賵賯 賱兀氐丨丕亘賴丕..
賵 賴賳丕 鬲丕鬲賷 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 丕賱賰丕賲賳丞 賮賷 乇賲夭賷丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮..賮賲賳亘毓 爻毓丕丿鬲賳丕 賴賵 丿丕卅賲丕 丕氐賱 卮賯丕丐賳丕
February 29, 2020
It is a simple tale, on the surface. Akaky Akakievich (literally "Harmless Son-of-Harmless," but which might sound like "Poopy Pooperson鈥� to a child), an impoverished civil servant and scrivener, must maintain his respectability by possessing a decent overcoat. How he gains a new overcoat, loses that overcoat, and seeks to have the overcoat restored to him constitutes the whole of our story.
Dostoevsky has been quoted as saying, 鈥淲e all come from under Gogol's Overcoat", and it is true that much of Russian literature can be glimpsed in this single short story: it is a satire ranging from buffonery to social commentary, a realist work rooted in naturalistic detail that sometimes descends to the grotesque and the surreal, and yet remains compassionate, maintaining its sympathy for all of us humans and our tragic and ludicrous plight. Not bad for a story slightly more than twelve thousand words in length.
Which brings us to the distinctive characteristic of Gogol: he is a literary conjurer, with an extraordinary ability to shift from tone to tone. The Overcoat begins in low comedy, making fun of its character's name, then describes his shabby living conditions until we begin to see the dead flies and smell the onions. Gogol ridicules his protagonist's rigidity and pomposity, but then鈥攚hen some younger clerks make fun of him鈥擥ogol shifts his tone again until we grow to regard Akaky with an abiding compassion. From there, Gogol sharpens his social satire, tempering it with a comedy touched with pathos, and ends鈥攏ot in tragedy, as we suspect it might, but鈥攊n nightmare and the supernatural.
We'll let Nabokov have the last word. 鈥淸W]ith Gogol this shifting is the very basis of his art... When, as in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced.鈥�
October 26, 2020
螣蟻纬萎, 胃位委蠄畏,慰委魏蟿慰,蟺蠈谓慰 魏伪喂 蟽蠀渭蟺蠈谓慰喂伪, 苇谓喂蠅蟽伪 未喂伪尾维味慰谓蟿伪蟼 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 蟽蟺伪蟻伪魏蟿喂魏慰 蟺伪位喂蠈 蟺伪位蟿蠈.
螆谓伪蟼 伪蟽萎渭伪谓蟿慰蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏慰蟼 维魏伪魏慰蟼 魏伪喂 未蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈蟼 魏伪喂 伪蠁慰蟽喂蠅渭苇谓慰蟼 未畏渭蠈蟽喂慰蟼 蠀蟺维位位畏位慰蟼 蠀蟺慰蠀蟻纬蔚委慰蠀 伪蟺伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺喂维蟼 伪谓伪味畏蟿维 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟿畏谓 畏蟽蠀蠂委伪 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏维 蟺蟻慰尾位苇蠄喂渭畏 蟻慰蠀蟿委谓伪 蟿畏蟼 蠁蟿蠅蠂喂魏萎蟼 蟿慰蠀 味蠅萎蟼.
"螘委渭伪喂 蠁蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼 魏慰蠀蟻伪蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蟽魏蠀蠁蟿蠈蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏慰蟼,
蟿蠅谓 蟿伪蟺蔚喂谓蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 维位位蠅谓 蟺慰蠀位喂蠋谓 蠁喂位伪蟻维魏慰蟼"
螠蔚 伪喂渭伪蟿畏蟻苇蟼 慰喂魏慰谓慰渭委蔚蟼 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 谓伪 蟻维蠄蔚喂 苇谓伪 魏伪喂谓慰蠉蟻纬喂慰 蟺伪位蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蟿慰谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蔚喂 伪蟺慰 蟿慰 未蟻喂渭蠉 蠄蠉蠂慰蟼 伪位位伪 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 胃伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽未蠋蟽蔚喂 伪尉委伪 魏伪喂 魏蠉蟻慰蟼 蟽蟿伪 渭维蟿喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蟽蠀谓伪未苇位蠁蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚喂 畏 魏伪魏慰萎胃蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 畏 伪蟺伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺喂维. 螒蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 谓苇慰 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈魏蟿畏渭伪 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 委未喂慰 蟺畏纬萎 蠂伪蟻维蟼 魏伪喂 蠈谓蔚喂蟻慰 蠉蟺伪蟻尉畏蟼.
"螠委伪 味蠅萎 渭蔚 魏蟻伪蟿维谓, 渭蔚 魏慰蠀谓维谓 渭鈥� 苇谓伪 蟽蟺维纬纬慰.
螞蠈纬喂伪, 蟽蠂慰位蔚喂维, 渭苇蟻伪 谓蠉蠂蟿伪 未慰蠀位蔚喂维 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺维纬魏慰."
螒谓伪蟿蟻喂蠂喂伪蟽蟿喂魏维 魏伪喂 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏维 蟿伪 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃慰蠉谓 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏喂 维尾慰蠀位慰 魏伪喂 未蔚喂位蠈 蟿伪蟺蔚喂谓蠈 魏伪喂 蔚蠀纬蔚谓喂魏蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 伪蟺伪蟻伪蟿萎蟻畏蟿慰 蟽蠂蔚未慰谓 伪蠈蟻伪蟿慰 伪蟺慰 蠈位慰蠀蟼,蠂伪渭畏位维 魏伪喂 蠀蠄畏位维 喂蟽蟿维渭蔚谓慰蠀蟼.
螌蟿伪谓 蟺苇蠁蟿蔚喂 胃蠉渭伪 位畏蟽蟿蔚委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠂维谓蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺慰位蠉蟿喂渭慰 蟺伪位蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻喂蟺蟿喂魏萎 胃位委蠄畏...
螌蟺慰蠀 蠂伪蟻维 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 魏位苇蠁蟿畏蟼.
螝喂 蠈蟺慰喂慰 魏伪魏蠈 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿鈥� 伪蠁蔚谓蟿喂魏蠈, 蔚纬蠋 蔚委渭鈥� 慰 蠁蟿伪委蠂蟿畏蟼."
韦慰 尾伪胃蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 谓蠈畏渭伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 蔚喂谓伪喂 畏 慰喂魏蔚喂慰胃蔚位萎蟼 未慰蠀位慰蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂伪, 畏 蠄蔚蠉蟿喂魏畏 蔚蠀纬苇谓蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 畏 蠄蠀蠂蟻萎 蠄蔚蠉蟿慰 伪蟻蠂慰谓蟿喂维 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 蔚蠂慰蠀渭蔚 伪蟺伪蟻伪喂蟿萎蟿蠅蟼 纬喂伪 谓伪 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀蟽蟿萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 魏蟻伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 萎 渭畏.
螌位慰喂 伪蠀蟿慰委 蟺慰蠀 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟿慰蠉谓 伪纬蠈纬纬蠀蟽蟿伪 苇谓伪谓 渭畏蠂伪谓喂蟽渭蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 谓蔚魏蟻蠋谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蠄蠀蠂萎 魏伪喂 蟿慰 渭蠀伪位蠈 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭慰蟺慰喂蔚委 渭蔚 蟽魏慰蟺蠈 蟿慰 魏苇蟻未慰蟼 未委谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠅蟼 伪谓蟿维位位伪纬渭伪 渭维蟿伪喂伪 蠀位喂魏维 伪纬伪胃维 伪位位伪 魏伪渭委伪 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蔚尉苇位喂尉畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪蠀蟿慰尾蔚位蟿委蠅蟽畏蟼.
螠萎蟺蠅蟼 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 魏伪喂 蔚渭蔚委蟼 渭苇蟽伪;
螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 蟿慰 维渭蔚蟽伪 !!
猬涳笍馃挏猬涳笍馃煢馃挏
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏!!
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼!!
螆谓伪蟼 伪蟽萎渭伪谓蟿慰蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏慰蟼 维魏伪魏慰蟼 魏伪喂 未蠀蟽蟿蠀蠂喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蟺喂蟽蟿蠈蟼 魏伪喂 伪蠁慰蟽喂蠅渭苇谓慰蟼 未畏渭蠈蟽喂慰蟼 蠀蟺维位位畏位慰蟼 蠀蟺慰蠀蟻纬蔚委慰蠀 伪蟺伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺喂维蟼 伪谓伪味畏蟿维 伪蟺位蠋蟼 蟿畏谓 畏蟽蠀蠂委伪 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏维 蟺蟻慰尾位苇蠄喂渭畏 蟻慰蠀蟿委谓伪 蟿畏蟼 蠁蟿蠅蠂喂魏萎蟼 蟿慰蠀 味蠅萎蟼.
"螘委渭伪喂 蠁蟿蠅蠂蠈蟼 魏慰蠀蟻伪蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 蟽魏蠀蠁蟿蠈蟼 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏慰蟼,
蟿蠅谓 蟿伪蟺蔚喂谓蠋谓 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 维位位蠅谓 蟺慰蠀位喂蠋谓 蠁喂位伪蟻维魏慰蟼"
螠蔚 伪喂渭伪蟿畏蟻苇蟼 慰喂魏慰谓慰渭委蔚蟼 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 谓伪 蟻维蠄蔚喂 苇谓伪 魏伪喂谓慰蠉蟻纬喂慰 蟺伪位蟿蠈 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蟿慰谓 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蔚喂 伪蟺慰 蟿慰 未蟻喂渭蠉 蠄蠉蠂慰蟼 伪位位伪 蟺伪蟻维位位畏位伪 胃伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽未蠋蟽蔚喂 伪尉委伪 魏伪喂 魏蠉蟻慰蟼 蟽蟿伪 渭维蟿喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蟽蠀谓伪未苇位蠁蠅谓 蟿慰蠀 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿畏蟻委味蔚喂 畏 魏伪魏慰萎胃蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 畏 伪蟺伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺喂维. 螒蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 谓苇慰 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈魏蟿畏渭伪 纬委谓蔚蟿伪喂 纬喂伪 蟿慰谓 委未喂慰 蟺畏纬萎 蠂伪蟻维蟼 魏伪喂 蠈谓蔚喂蟻慰 蠉蟺伪蟻尉畏蟼.
"螠委伪 味蠅萎 渭蔚 魏蟻伪蟿维谓, 渭蔚 魏慰蠀谓维谓 渭鈥� 苇谓伪 蟽蟺维纬纬慰.
螞蠈纬喂伪, 蟽蠂慰位蔚喂维, 渭苇蟻伪 谓蠉蠂蟿伪 未慰蠀位蔚喂维 魏伪喂 蟽蟿慰谓 蟺维纬魏慰."
螒谓伪蟿蟻喂蠂喂伪蟽蟿喂魏维 魏伪喂 蟿蟻伪纬喂魏维 蟿伪 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 蟺慰蠀 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃慰蠉谓 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺维魏喂 维尾慰蠀位慰 魏伪喂 未蔚喂位蠈 蟿伪蟺蔚喂谓蠈 魏伪喂 蔚蠀纬蔚谓喂魏蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维蔚喂 伪蟺伪蟻伪蟿萎蟻畏蟿慰 蟽蠂蔚未慰谓 伪蠈蟻伪蟿慰 伪蟺慰 蠈位慰蠀蟼,蠂伪渭畏位维 魏伪喂 蠀蠄畏位维 喂蟽蟿维渭蔚谓慰蠀蟼.
螌蟿伪谓 蟺苇蠁蟿蔚喂 胃蠉渭伪 位畏蟽蟿蔚委伪蟼 魏伪喂 蠂维谓蔚喂 蟿慰 蟺慰位蠉蟿喂渭慰 蟺伪位蟿蠈 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 畏 蟽蠀谓蟿蟻喂蟺蟿喂魏萎 胃位委蠄畏...
螌蟺慰蠀 蠂伪蟻维 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蟺蟻蠋蟿畏 蟽蔚喂蟻维 魏维蟺慰喂慰蟼 魏位苇蠁蟿畏蟼.
螝喂 蠈蟺慰喂慰 魏伪魏蠈 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿鈥� 伪蠁蔚谓蟿喂魏蠈, 蔚纬蠋 蔚委渭鈥� 慰 蠁蟿伪委蠂蟿畏蟼."
韦慰 尾伪胃蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 谓蠈畏渭伪 伪蠀蟿慰蠉 蟿慰蠀 伪蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀蟻纬萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 蔚喂谓伪喂 畏 慰喂魏蔚喂慰胃蔚位萎蟼 未慰蠀位慰蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂伪, 畏 蠄蔚蠉蟿喂魏畏 蔚蠀纬苇谓蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 畏 蠄蠀蠂蟻萎 蠄蔚蠉蟿慰 伪蟻蠂慰谓蟿喂维 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 蔚蠂慰蠀渭蔚 伪蟺伪蟻伪喂蟿萎蟿蠅蟼 纬喂伪 谓伪 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 渭苇蟻慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟽蠀蟽蟿萎渭伪蟿慰蟼 魏蟻伪蟿喂魏慰蠉 萎 渭畏.
螌位慰喂 伪蠀蟿慰委 蟺慰蠀 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟿慰蠉谓 伪纬蠈纬纬蠀蟽蟿伪 苇谓伪谓 渭畏蠂伪谓喂蟽渭蠈 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰蠀蟼 谓蔚魏蟻蠋谓蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蠄蠀蠂萎 魏伪喂 蟿慰 渭蠀伪位蠈 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠂蟻畏蟽喂渭慰蟺慰喂蔚委 渭蔚 蟽魏慰蟺蠈 蟿慰 魏苇蟻未慰蟼 未委谓慰谓蟿伪蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼 蠅蟼 伪谓蟿维位位伪纬渭伪 渭维蟿伪喂伪 蠀位喂魏维 伪纬伪胃维 伪位位伪 魏伪渭委伪 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蔚尉苇位喂尉畏蟼 魏伪喂 伪蠀蟿慰尾蔚位蟿委蠅蟽畏蟼.
螠萎蟺蠅蟼 蔚委渭伪蟽蟿蔚 魏伪喂 蔚渭蔚委蟼 渭苇蟽伪;
螖喂伪尾维蟽蟿蔚 蟿慰 维渭蔚蟽伪 !!
猬涳笍馃挏猬涳笍馃煢馃挏
螝伪位萎 伪谓维纬谓蠅蟽畏!!
螤慰位位慰蠉蟼 伪蟽蟺伪蟽渭慰蠉蟼!!
February 19, 2024
- 賯氐丞 賯氐賷乇丞.. 毓丿丿 氐賮丨丕鬲賴丕 亘爻賷胤貙 賲毓丕賳賷賴丕 鬲鬲毓丿賶 賴匕丕 丕賱毓丿丿 亘兀卮賵丕胤貙 賵丕賱賲睾夭賶 賲賳賴丕 毓賲賷賯 賵丿賯賷賯.
- 毓賱賶 丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 賯氐乇賴丕貙 賵丕爻賱賵亘賴丕 丕賱賲亘丕卮乇 丕賱丕 丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賳爻噩 賲賯胤賵毓丞 丕丿亘賷丞 亘賳賶 毓賱賷賴丕 賰孬乇賹 賲賲賳 賰鬲亘賵丕 亘毓丿賴 賮賷 乇賵爻賷丕 賵賱毓賲乇賷 丕賳賰 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 賯乇丕亍丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵丿賵爻鬲賵賮爻賰賷 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞.
- 毓賱賶 丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 賯氐乇賴丕貙 賵丕爻賱賵亘賴丕 丕賱賲亘丕卮乇 丕賱丕 丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賳爻噩 賲賯胤賵毓丞 丕丿亘賷丞 亘賳賶 毓賱賷賴丕 賰孬乇賹 賲賲賳 賰鬲亘賵丕 亘毓丿賴 賮賷 乇賵爻賷丕 賵賱毓賲乇賷 丕賳賰 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 賯乇丕亍丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 賵丿賵爻鬲賵賮爻賰賷 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞.
February 23, 2017
Recently I read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri about two generations of an Indian immigrant family to the United States. The main theme of the novel was that the father Ashoke was reading The Overcoat on a train journey. The train derailed and this slim book saved his life. Indebted to the book, Ashoke decided to name his newborn son Nikhil but gave him the nickname Gogol, after the Russian writer whose works he adored. Lahiri even includes snippets of Gogol's life in her novel, but until now I had not read any of his work. It is in this regard, that I chose to read The Overcoat to get a feel for the story that had such a central place in the book.
Nicolai Gogol lived a brief existence from 1809-1852, primarily in Petersburg, Russia, with a few sojourns to Rome. Gogol was a gifted writer who influenced Dostoevsky and Turgenev among others. Sent away to boarding school at the age of ten, Gogol lived most of his life away from his father, and did not have other family to speak of. As a result, he had compassion for the less fortunate of people, and this becomes evident in his famous short story.
Gogol got the idea for The Overcoat at a party with friends when he heard of a civil servant who desires a new gun but could not afford one and saved money in order to do so. Thus, the idea for Akaky Akakyevich and his overcoat was born. Akakyevich survived on a salary of 450 rubles a year and could barely afford food or clothes. He was happy at his job as a copier and had no desire to advance in his profession or to marry. Living in a tiny apartment in the poor side of town, Akakyevich brought home extra work and saved rubles in a tin in order to have the means to afford repairs to his clothing.
One year, his Overcoat was worn beyond repair, and Akaky Akakyevich saved rubles in his tin for a new coat. He convinced his tailor Petrovich in a drunken moment to sew him a new one for only 80 rubles and by doing so was able to survive for another winter. Despite his joy in receiving the new coat, Akakyevich's moment is short lived; however, because others coveted his coat and stole it from him. This fleeting moment sets up a memorable denouement that appears to be out of a folk tale.
I thought The Overcoat was straight forward and accessible to read. I enjoyed the message that Gogol sent to his readers to have compassion on others regardless of one's station in life, and was especially moved when Akakyevich's colleagues took up collection for a new Overcoat for him. This is the second short story I have read by a Russian master this year, and I am glad to see that the stories are folktales in nature and easy to read. I hope stories as The Overcoat lead me to read some of the longer, classic Russian literature, and am glad that Jhumpa Lahiri's novel inspired me to read the works of Nicolai Gogol.
Nicolai Gogol lived a brief existence from 1809-1852, primarily in Petersburg, Russia, with a few sojourns to Rome. Gogol was a gifted writer who influenced Dostoevsky and Turgenev among others. Sent away to boarding school at the age of ten, Gogol lived most of his life away from his father, and did not have other family to speak of. As a result, he had compassion for the less fortunate of people, and this becomes evident in his famous short story.
Gogol got the idea for The Overcoat at a party with friends when he heard of a civil servant who desires a new gun but could not afford one and saved money in order to do so. Thus, the idea for Akaky Akakyevich and his overcoat was born. Akakyevich survived on a salary of 450 rubles a year and could barely afford food or clothes. He was happy at his job as a copier and had no desire to advance in his profession or to marry. Living in a tiny apartment in the poor side of town, Akakyevich brought home extra work and saved rubles in a tin in order to have the means to afford repairs to his clothing.
One year, his Overcoat was worn beyond repair, and Akaky Akakyevich saved rubles in his tin for a new coat. He convinced his tailor Petrovich in a drunken moment to sew him a new one for only 80 rubles and by doing so was able to survive for another winter. Despite his joy in receiving the new coat, Akakyevich's moment is short lived; however, because others coveted his coat and stole it from him. This fleeting moment sets up a memorable denouement that appears to be out of a folk tale.
I thought The Overcoat was straight forward and accessible to read. I enjoyed the message that Gogol sent to his readers to have compassion on others regardless of one's station in life, and was especially moved when Akakyevich's colleagues took up collection for a new Overcoat for him. This is the second short story I have read by a Russian master this year, and I am glad to see that the stories are folktales in nature and easy to read. I hope stories as The Overcoat lead me to read some of the longer, classic Russian literature, and am glad that Jhumpa Lahiri's novel inspired me to read the works of Nicolai Gogol.
May 30, 2020
2020 update: I'm bumping this up to all 5 stars on reread. This Russian tale of an introverted man and his trials relating to an expensive (for him) overcoat really hit me on second read. The characterization is so in-depth for a shorter work, especially as it relates to Akaky, the main character, his tailor, and a small-minded bureaucrat. There's also some really interesting symbolism relating to his overcoat and how it affects both Akaky and the people around him. Recommended!
The English translation on Project Gutenberg (linked at the end of this review) from the original Russian is excellent, except that it still irks me that it's called "the cloak" rather than the overcoat. (It has sleeves; it's an overcoat)
Original review: In my preparation for reading , I did some background reading of critical analyses, including by Vladimir Nabokov (thanks to Cecily for the link!), where he does a fantastic dissection (heh) of The Metamorphosis but also talks about Gogol's "The Carrick" (aka "The Cloak" or "The Overcoat") and tosses off wonderful ideas like this:
Akaky Akakievich is an absurd, pathetic figure of a man. His name would translate as something very nondescript like "John Johnson," except you also have this deliberate allusion to "kaka" (or caca = feces) in his name; one review site suggested you think of him as Poopy McPooperson. He is a "titular councillor" (read: minor official) who in fact does nothing except act as a human photocopier, all day, every day, for very low pay. He even takes his copy work home with him in the evenings. His only joy in life is derived from his copy work. Even being asked to make the most minor changes to the original version throws him into a tizzy. His co-workers make fun of him, but other than a pitiful protest of "Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?," he quietly carries on.
Until one day, when he realizes that his overcoat has become so threadbare that it won't keep off the cold St. Petersburg winter. After a few skirmishes with his tailor about whether the old coat can be patched up or not, he caves and agrees to save up money for a new coat, which will cost like 20% of his annual wages. Gradually Akaky gets more and more excited about his new coat. And when he finally gets the finished overcoat -- lined with cat fur because marten fur is too expensive (sorry to my feline-loving friends!) -- it causes a sensation in his workplace.
Of course, this being 19th century Russian literature, you know it's going to go south for poor Akaky. But the surprise for me was the ending.
I'm still a little bemused by the unexpected turn from existentialist dark humor to gothic at the end. It didn't quite feel integral to me, Nabokov's inspired praises notwithstanding. So, four stars from me, even though I actually though it was an amusing ending and I liked seeing a certain character get his comeuppance.
Free online several places, including at Project Gutenberg in a collection of Russian short stories.
The English translation on Project Gutenberg (linked at the end of this review) from the original Russian is excellent, except that it still irks me that it's called "the cloak" rather than the overcoat. (It has sleeves; it's an overcoat)
Original review: In my preparation for reading , I did some background reading of critical analyses, including by Vladimir Nabokov (thanks to Cecily for the link!), where he does a fantastic dissection (heh) of The Metamorphosis but also talks about Gogol's "The Carrick" (aka "The Cloak" or "The Overcoat") and tosses off wonderful ideas like this:
"The beauty of Kafka's and Gogol's private nightmares is that their central human characters belong to the same private fantastic world as the inhuman characters around them, but the central one tries to get out of that world, to cast off the mask, to transcend the cloak or the carapace."And then there's this haunting quote, attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky: "We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'." (ETA: Even months later, every time I think about this story, that quote comes to mind.) So off I went to read Nicolai Gogol's short story.
Akaky Akakievich is an absurd, pathetic figure of a man. His name would translate as something very nondescript like "John Johnson," except you also have this deliberate allusion to "kaka" (or caca = feces) in his name; one review site suggested you think of him as Poopy McPooperson. He is a "titular councillor" (read: minor official) who in fact does nothing except act as a human photocopier, all day, every day, for very low pay. He even takes his copy work home with him in the evenings. His only joy in life is derived from his copy work. Even being asked to make the most minor changes to the original version throws him into a tizzy. His co-workers make fun of him, but other than a pitiful protest of "Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?," he quietly carries on.
Until one day, when he realizes that his overcoat has become so threadbare that it won't keep off the cold St. Petersburg winter. After a few skirmishes with his tailor about whether the old coat can be patched up or not, he caves and agrees to save up money for a new coat, which will cost like 20% of his annual wages. Gradually Akaky gets more and more excited about his new coat. And when he finally gets the finished overcoat -- lined with cat fur because marten fur is too expensive (sorry to my feline-loving friends!) -- it causes a sensation in his workplace.
Of course, this being 19th century Russian literature, you know it's going to go south for poor Akaky. But the surprise for me was the ending.
I'm still a little bemused by the unexpected turn from existentialist dark humor to gothic at the end. It didn't quite feel integral to me, Nabokov's inspired praises notwithstanding. So, four stars from me, even though I actually though it was an amusing ending and I liked seeing a certain character get his comeuppance.
Free online several places, including at Project Gutenberg in a collection of Russian short stories.
August 28, 2017
賲賯丿賲丞 睾賵睾賵賱賷丞 :
賮賷 丕賱爻賳丞 丕賱賲丕囟賷丞 .. 丿乇爻鬲 賮賷 丕賱噩丕賲毓丞 賲丕丿丞 賲賴賲丞 噩丿丕 賵 賴賷 賲丕丿丞 丕賱賲賷鬲乇賵賱賵噩賷丕 兀賵 賲丕 賷爻賲賶 亘毓賱賲 丕賱賯賷丕爻 賵 丕賱兀賵夭丕賳* . 鬲賳丕賵賱賳丕 賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 鬲丕乇賷禺 賴匕丕 丕賱毓賱賲 賵 兀賴賲賷鬲賴 丕賱賰亘乇賶 賮賷 鬲賳馗賷賲 丨賷丕丞 丕賱賳丕爻貙 賵 廿丿禺丕賱 賲氐胤賱丨 丕賱丿賯賾丞 賮賷 鬲毓丕賲賱丕鬲賴賲 賮賷 賲噩丕賱丕鬲 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賰丕賱賲爻丕賮丕鬲貙 丕賱兀賵夭丕賳貙 丕賱丨噩賵賲 賵 睾賷乇賴丕 丕賱賰孬賷乇 . 賵 鬲賳丕賵賱賳丕 兀賷囟丕 丕賱賳賯胤丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇鬲賰夭 毓賱賷賴丕 賴匕丕 丕賱毓賱賲 賵 賴賷 " 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 ** 兀賵 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賱賾丿 賲賳賴 兀賵 賳鬲噩 毓賳賴 賵丨丿丞 丕賱賯賷丕爻 ..
賵 賱賰賳 .. 賴賳丕賱賰 爻丐丕賱 賲賴賲 噩丿丕 賷鬲亘丕丿乇 廿賱賶 匕賴賳 賲賳 賯乇兀 賴匕賴 丕賱賮賯乇丞 .. 胤亘毓丕 賱賷爻 丕賱爻丐丕賱 丨賵賱 鬲禺氐氐賷 賮賷 丕賱噩丕賲毓丞 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .. 賵 賱賰賳 丨賵賱 毓賱丕賯丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賮賯乇丞 賵 賲丕 丕丨鬲賵鬲賴 賲賳 孬乇孬乇丞 亘丕賱賲毓胤賮 兀賵 亘賯氐丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮 . 胤亘毓丕 .. 賴賳丕賱賰 廿噩丕亘丞 賵丕丨丿丞 .. 賯丕賱賴丕 賲賳 賯亘賱 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 .. " 賰賱賳丕 禺乇噩賳丕 賲賳 賲毓胤賮 睾賵睾賵賱 " 賵 兀賳丕 兀毓賷丿賴丕 亘胤乇賷賯丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賳賵毓丕 賲丕 賵 賱賰賳賾賴丕 鬲氐亘賾 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賲賮賴賵賲貙 賵 賴賷 兀賳賾 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱賯氐賷乇丞 - 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賱 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 - 鬲毓鬲亘乇 亘賲孬丕亘丞 " 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 " . 賵 亘胤賷亘毓丞 丕賱丨丕賱 賱賷爻鬲 賲賯賷丕爻丕 賱賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 丕賱毓丕丿賷丞 ( 賮賴匕丕 馗賱賲 賱賴匕賴 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 ) 賵 賱賰賳 賴賷 賲賯賷丕爻 賱賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 .. 賵丨丿丞 噩丿賷丿丞 賲囟丕賮丞 廿賱賶 賯丕卅賲丞 丕賱賵丨丿丕鬲 丕賱賲丨賮賵馗丞 丿賵賱賷丕 .. 賵 丕賱鬲賷 賵噩亘 賵囟毓賴丕 賮賷 賲鬲丨賮 禺丕氐 賲毓 賵丨丿丞 丕賱賲鬲乇 賵 丕賱賰賷賱賵睾乇丕賲 賵 睾賷乇賴丕 賲賳 丕賱賵丨丿丕鬲 丕賱兀禺乇賶 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮丞 .
賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賵 賰賲丕 賮賷 丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賲賲賱貙 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷貙 丕賱賲囟噩乇貙 丕賱禺丕賳賯貙 丕賱匕賷 賷噩毓賱賰 鬲賱毓賳 賰賱 禺胤賵丞 廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞貙 丕賱噩丕賮貙 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵 賰賱 賲丕 丕禺鬲夭賳鬲賴 匕丕賰乇鬲賳丕 賵 賳丨賳 賳爻賷乇
廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賲賳 賳毓賵鬲 賵 氐賮丕鬲 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .. 丕賱賲賴賲 賴賵 兀賳賾 毓賱賷賳丕 丕賱廿鬲賷丕賳 亘賲孬丕賱 鬲賵囟賷丨賷 .. 賷亘賷賳 胤乇賷賯丞 丕爻鬲毓賲丕賱 賴匕賴 丕賱賵丨丿丞 賱賳兀禺匕 賲孬賱丕 賯氐賾丞 賱丕毓亘 丕賱卮胤乇賳噩 ..賱賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱賳賲爻丕賵賷 爻鬲賷賮丕賳 夭賮丕賷賳噩 . 賮廿匕丕 兀乇丿賳丕 兀賳 賳胤亘賾賯 毓賱賷賴丕 賲賯賷丕爻賳丕 丕賱噩丿賷丿 .. 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 兀氐賳賮賴丕 ( 兀賵 兀賯賷爻賴丕 ) 亘孬賱丕孬 賲毓丕胤賮 賵 賳氐賮 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .
賲賱丕丨馗丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賲賯賷丕爻 賱丕 賷毓賳賷 丕賱兀賮囟賱賷丞 .. 賲孬賱丕 賱丕 賷毓賳賷 兀賳賳丕 丨賷賳 賳賯賵賱 兀賳 賯氐丞 賱丕毓亘 丕賱卮胤乇賳噩 鬲賯賷賷賲賴丕 賴賵 孬賱丕孬 賲毓丕胤賮 賵 賳氐賮 兀賷 兀賳賴丕 兀丨爻賳 賲賳 賯氐賾丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮 亘孬賱丕孬 賲乇丕鬲 賵 賳氐賮 .. 賱丕 .. 賱丕 .. 賴匕丕 禺胤兀 . 兀賵 賱賳賯賱 兀賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕賱兀賮囟賱賷丞 賱賷爻 賲賵囟賵毓賳丕 .
鬲賳亘賷賴 亘禺氐賵氐 賲賱丕丨馗丞 丕賱賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賳賯賷賾賲 亘毓囟 丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 亘丕賱爻丕賱亘 .. 賲孬丕賱 賳賯賷賾賲 賯氐賾丞 賲丕 亘賳丕賯氐 賲毓胤賮 兀賵 賳丕賯氐 禺賲爻 賲毓丕胤賮貙 賵 賱賰賳 賲賳 丕賱兀賮囟賱 毓丿賲 賮毓賱 匕賱賰 .. 賱兀賳賾 賴匕丕 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 禺丕氐 ( 亘賳爻亘丞 賰亘賷乇丞 ) 亘丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵 賮賯胤 .
丕爻鬲賳鬲丕噩 :
:D:D:D:D:D
胤亘毓丕 丕丕賱賲賯丿賲丞 睾乇賷亘丞 .. 賵 賱賰賳 賱賲賳 賯乇兀 賱睾賵睾賵賱 爻賷毓乇賮 兀賳賴 賱丕 丨丿賵丿 賱賴匕賴 丕賱賰賱賲丞 .. 賱兀賳賾 兀丿亘賴 兀賵 賲丕 賰鬲亘賴 賴賵 丕賱睾乇丕亘丞 亘毓賷賳賴丕 .
*
*
*
*
丕賱賲毓胤賮 .. 賯氐賾丞 卮賷亍 毓賳 賰賱 卮賷亍 :
廿賳爻丕賳 賱賲 賷賮賰乇 兀丨丿 賮賷 丨賲丕賷鬲賴貙 賵 賱賲 賷賰賳 毓夭賷夭丕 毓賱賶 兀丨丿貙 賵 賱賲 賷賰賳 兀丨丿 賷賴鬲賲 亘兀賲乇賴 賱丕 賲賳 賯乇賷亘 賵 賱丕 賲賳 亘毓賷丿貙 廿賳爻丕賳 毓丕卮 賮賷 丕賱馗賱丕賱貙 賵丨賷丿丕 鬲賲丕賲丕 .. 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賯丿 夭丕賱 .. 丕禺鬲賮賶 .. 鬲賱丕卮賶 .. 丕賳丿孬乇 .. 丿賵賳 丕丿賳賶 囟噩丞 .. 賴匕賴 賴賷 丕賱賯氐丞 .. 賴匕賴 賴賷 丕賱丨亘賰丞 .. 賴匕丕 賴賵 賰賱 卮賷卅 ..
毓賳丿賲丕 鬲賯乇兀 兀賵 鬲亘丿兀 賮賷 賯乇丕亍丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 爻鬲卮毓乇 兀賳賰 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 毓丕丿賷丞 噩丿丕貙 兀賳 丕賱噩賲賱 亘爻賷胤丞 爻賴賱丞 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 丕賱睾乇丕亘丞 賲丕 賮賷賴丕 .. 賵 賱賰賳 賴賳丕賱賰 卮賷亍 賲丕 丿丕禺賱賷 賷禺亘乇賰 兀賳 丕賱匕賷 賰鬲亘 賴匕賴 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 廿賲丕 毓亘賯乇賷 兀賵 賲噩賳賵賳 賵 賱賰賳 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱丨丕賱丞 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 毓亘賯乇賷 賵 賲噩賳賵賳 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲 .
* ( m茅trologie )
** ( Un 茅talon )
賮賷 丕賱爻賳丞 丕賱賲丕囟賷丞 .. 丿乇爻鬲 賮賷 丕賱噩丕賲毓丞 賲丕丿丞 賲賴賲丞 噩丿丕 賵 賴賷 賲丕丿丞 丕賱賲賷鬲乇賵賱賵噩賷丕 兀賵 賲丕 賷爻賲賶 亘毓賱賲 丕賱賯賷丕爻 賵 丕賱兀賵夭丕賳* . 鬲賳丕賵賱賳丕 賲賳 禺賱丕賱賴丕 鬲丕乇賷禺 賴匕丕 丕賱毓賱賲 賵 兀賴賲賷鬲賴 丕賱賰亘乇賶 賮賷 鬲賳馗賷賲 丨賷丕丞 丕賱賳丕爻貙 賵 廿丿禺丕賱 賲氐胤賱丨 丕賱丿賯賾丞 賮賷 鬲毓丕賲賱丕鬲賴賲 賮賷 賲噩丕賱丕鬲 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賰丕賱賲爻丕賮丕鬲貙 丕賱兀賵夭丕賳貙 丕賱丨噩賵賲 賵 睾賷乇賴丕 丕賱賰孬賷乇 . 賵 鬲賳丕賵賱賳丕 兀賷囟丕 丕賱賳賯胤丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷乇鬲賰夭 毓賱賷賴丕 賴匕丕 丕賱毓賱賲 賵 賴賷 " 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 ** 兀賵 丕賱卮賷亍 丕賱匕賷 鬲賵賱賾丿 賲賳賴 兀賵 賳鬲噩 毓賳賴 賵丨丿丞 丕賱賯賷丕爻 ..
賵 賱賰賳 .. 賴賳丕賱賰 爻丐丕賱 賲賴賲 噩丿丕 賷鬲亘丕丿乇 廿賱賶 匕賴賳 賲賳 賯乇兀 賴匕賴 丕賱賮賯乇丞 .. 胤亘毓丕 賱賷爻 丕賱爻丐丕賱 丨賵賱 鬲禺氐氐賷 賮賷 丕賱噩丕賲毓丞 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .. 賵 賱賰賳 丨賵賱 毓賱丕賯丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賮賯乇丞 賵 賲丕 丕丨鬲賵鬲賴 賲賳 孬乇孬乇丞 亘丕賱賲毓胤賮 兀賵 亘賯氐丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮 . 胤亘毓丕 .. 賴賳丕賱賰 廿噩丕亘丞 賵丕丨丿丞 .. 賯丕賱賴丕 賲賳 賯亘賱 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 .. " 賰賱賳丕 禺乇噩賳丕 賲賳 賲毓胤賮 睾賵睾賵賱 " 賵 兀賳丕 兀毓賷丿賴丕 亘胤乇賷賯丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賳賵毓丕 賲丕 賵 賱賰賳賾賴丕 鬲氐亘賾 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賲賮賴賵賲貙 賵 賴賷 兀賳賾 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 丕賱賯氐賷乇丞 - 毓賱賶 丕賱兀賯賱 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賷 - 鬲毓鬲亘乇 亘賲孬丕亘丞 " 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 " . 賵 亘胤賷亘毓丞 丕賱丨丕賱 賱賷爻鬲 賲賯賷丕爻丕 賱賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 丕賱毓丕丿賷丞 ( 賮賴匕丕 馗賱賲 賱賴匕賴 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 ) 賵 賱賰賳 賴賷 賲賯賷丕爻 賱賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 .. 賵丨丿丞 噩丿賷丿丞 賲囟丕賮丞 廿賱賶 賯丕卅賲丞 丕賱賵丨丿丕鬲 丕賱賲丨賮賵馗丞 丿賵賱賷丕 .. 賵 丕賱鬲賷 賵噩亘 賵囟毓賴丕 賮賷 賲鬲丨賮 禺丕氐 賲毓 賵丨丿丞 丕賱賲鬲乇 賵 丕賱賰賷賱賵睾乇丕賲 賵 睾賷乇賴丕 賲賳 丕賱賵丨丿丕鬲 丕賱兀禺乇賶 丕賱賲毓乇賵賮丞 .
賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賵 賰賲丕 賮賷 丕賱兀爻賱賵亘 丕賱賲賲賱貙 丕賱賰賱丕爻賷賰賷貙 丕賱賲囟噩乇貙 丕賱禺丕賳賯貙 丕賱匕賷 賷噩毓賱賰 鬲賱毓賳 賰賱 禺胤賵丞 廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞貙 丕賱噩丕賮貙 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵 賰賱 賲丕 丕禺鬲夭賳鬲賴 匕丕賰乇鬲賳丕 賵 賳丨賳 賳爻賷乇
廿賱賶 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賲賳 賳毓賵鬲 賵 氐賮丕鬲 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .. 丕賱賲賴賲 賴賵 兀賳賾 毓賱賷賳丕 丕賱廿鬲賷丕賳 亘賲孬丕賱 鬲賵囟賷丨賷 .. 賷亘賷賳 胤乇賷賯丞 丕爻鬲毓賲丕賱 賴匕賴 丕賱賵丨丿丞 賱賳兀禺匕 賲孬賱丕 賯氐賾丞 賱丕毓亘 丕賱卮胤乇賳噩 ..賱賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱賳賲爻丕賵賷 爻鬲賷賮丕賳 夭賮丕賷賳噩 . 賮廿匕丕 兀乇丿賳丕 兀賳 賳胤亘賾賯 毓賱賷賴丕 賲賯賷丕爻賳丕 丕賱噩丿賷丿 .. 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 兀氐賳賮賴丕 ( 兀賵 兀賯賷爻賴丕 ) 亘孬賱丕孬 賲毓丕胤賮 賵 賳氐賮 .. 賴賴賴賴賴賴賴賴 .
賲賱丕丨馗丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賲賯賷丕爻 賱丕 賷毓賳賷 丕賱兀賮囟賱賷丞 .. 賲孬賱丕 賱丕 賷毓賳賷 兀賳賳丕 丨賷賳 賳賯賵賱 兀賳 賯氐丞 賱丕毓亘 丕賱卮胤乇賳噩 鬲賯賷賷賲賴丕 賴賵 孬賱丕孬 賲毓丕胤賮 賵 賳氐賮 兀賷 兀賳賴丕 兀丨爻賳 賲賳 賯氐賾丞 丕賱賲毓胤賮 亘孬賱丕孬 賲乇丕鬲 賵 賳氐賮 .. 賱丕 .. 賱丕 .. 賴匕丕 禺胤兀 . 兀賵 賱賳賯賱 兀賳 賲賵囟賵毓 丕賱兀賮囟賱賷丞 賱賷爻 賲賵囟賵毓賳丕 .
鬲賳亘賷賴 亘禺氐賵氐 賲賱丕丨馗丞 丕賱賲賱丕丨馗丞 :
賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賳賯賷賾賲 亘毓囟 丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 亘丕賱爻丕賱亘 .. 賲孬丕賱 賳賯賷賾賲 賯氐賾丞 賲丕 亘賳丕賯氐 賲毓胤賮 兀賵 賳丕賯氐 禺賲爻 賲毓丕胤賮貙 賵 賱賰賳 賲賳 丕賱兀賮囟賱 毓丿賲 賮毓賱 匕賱賰 .. 賱兀賳賾 賴匕丕 丕賱賲賯賷丕爻 禺丕氐 ( 亘賳爻亘丞 賰亘賷乇丞 ) 亘丕賱兀毓賲丕賱 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賵 賮賯胤 .
丕爻鬲賳鬲丕噩 :
:D:D:D:D:D
胤亘毓丕 丕丕賱賲賯丿賲丞 睾乇賷亘丞 .. 賵 賱賰賳 賱賲賳 賯乇兀 賱睾賵睾賵賱 爻賷毓乇賮 兀賳賴 賱丕 丨丿賵丿 賱賴匕賴 丕賱賰賱賲丞 .. 賱兀賳賾 兀丿亘賴 兀賵 賲丕 賰鬲亘賴 賴賵 丕賱睾乇丕亘丞 亘毓賷賳賴丕 .
*
*
*
*
丕賱賲毓胤賮 .. 賯氐賾丞 卮賷亍 毓賳 賰賱 卮賷亍 :
廿賳爻丕賳 賱賲 賷賮賰乇 兀丨丿 賮賷 丨賲丕賷鬲賴貙 賵 賱賲 賷賰賳 毓夭賷夭丕 毓賱賶 兀丨丿貙 賵 賱賲 賷賰賳 兀丨丿 賷賴鬲賲 亘兀賲乇賴 賱丕 賲賳 賯乇賷亘 賵 賱丕 賲賳 亘毓賷丿貙 廿賳爻丕賳 毓丕卮 賮賷 丕賱馗賱丕賱貙 賵丨賷丿丕 鬲賲丕賲丕 .. 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賯丿 夭丕賱 .. 丕禺鬲賮賶 .. 鬲賱丕卮賶 .. 丕賳丿孬乇 .. 丿賵賳 丕丿賳賶 囟噩丞 .. 賴匕賴 賴賷 丕賱賯氐丞 .. 賴匕賴 賴賷 丕賱丨亘賰丞 .. 賴匕丕 賴賵 賰賱 卮賷卅 ..
毓賳丿賲丕 鬲賯乇兀 兀賵 鬲亘丿兀 賮賷 賯乇丕亍丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 爻鬲卮毓乇 兀賳賰 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 毓丕丿賷丞 噩丿丕貙 兀賳 丕賱噩賲賱 亘爻賷胤丞 爻賴賱丞 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 丕賱睾乇丕亘丞 賲丕 賮賷賴丕 .. 賵 賱賰賳 賴賳丕賱賰 卮賷亍 賲丕 丿丕禺賱賷 賷禺亘乇賰 兀賳 丕賱匕賷 賰鬲亘 賴匕賴 丕賱賰賱賲丕鬲 廿賲丕 毓亘賯乇賷 兀賵 賲噩賳賵賳 賵 賱賰賳 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱丨丕賱丞 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 毓亘賯乇賷 賵 賲噩賳賵賳 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲 .
* ( m茅trologie )
** ( Un 茅talon )
February 2, 2023
Re-read commenced 30th Jan 2023
Some additional comments to my previous review. This second read was a lot of fun, as I obviously know our character a little better - and he still pulls at the heartstrings. I mean, the poor guy - all he wanted (and needed) was a new overcoat. In fact, when he asked his neighbour, a drunken tailor called Petrovich.
Other aspects of this story stood out for me this time:
1. The Russian (or Gogol's) obsession with societal hierarchy. He certainly pokes fun at this.
2. Some of the things poor Akaky needs to do for some months to save for his new overcoat include - stop drinking tea in the evenings, stop using candles (if he needed to do some of his copying at night he would use his land-lady's candle-light, he would have to walk/step/tiptoe lightly on his feet so as not to wear out his shoes (Bahahahahaha - sorry Akaky), he would avoid sending his clothes to the laundry lady so often - thus making his undies and sockes last longer - both in vivo and their shelf-life. This last fact - and whole sordid episode of underpants was mentioned in my first review below. It's a subject I am passionate about but did cause an unecessary stir in the comments section :))
3. The uptight Important Personage, who Akaky needed to help him find his stolen overcoat was a funny character - but he took himself very seriously of course as he was a very very senior important person. Some of the important personage's most common phrases used when people approached him for assistance were a) "How dare you?, b) "Do you know who you're talking too?" and c) "Do you realise who is standing before you?" - I almost wet myself laughing when I read that - it is just brilliantly funny, and Gogal made me read it again and again.
Anyway another 5-star read. Next, will be Diary of a Madman in a month or so, I cant gobble up all my Gogols to soon.
Previous review from 2021
Sometimes the best reading experiences are the little ones that pop-up out of nowhere, just like The Overcoat by Nikloai Gogol.
This story centres around Akaky Akakievich Shoenik a lowly copying clerk for The Department in St Petersburg, Russia. He is a simple man, doesn鈥檛 want much 鈥� he鈥檚 happiest copying documents, in fact he even does it in his spare time! His co-workers rib him relentlessly, but he takes it 鈥� one can only feel sorry for this quiet, unassuming guy.
Poor Akaky has an overcoat, and it鈥檚 very worn and is the cause of much piss-taking in the office. But the threadbare garment gets to the stage where it needs to be repaired (again) or replaced (God forbid!). Enter the half-pickled Petrovich, his local tailor. Akaky needs to negotiate with the hungover Petrovich for the repair or replacement of the coat. This is where things get interesting.
Anyway - he only gets to wear his new coat for a night - as it is stolen.
Eventually Akaky comes across an Important Personage - I love that moniker 鈥� and the whole fate of Akaky is turned on its head.
This story has a dark, miserable element to it for sure. Its grim, life is hard 鈥� a world without joy. It鈥檚 almost Kafkaesque in some ways, particularly in the closing pages. I loved this.
Interesting observation: Akaky, operated on a roster of two pairs of underpants! I must say this makes my dedicated team of ten pairs a little excessive, I may need to scale back and get some of that all too precious drawer space back!!
Akaky is a man after my own heart 鈥� why throw away perfectly good clothes when they are still wearable? I have never understood people who (a) buy clothes other than when totally necessary and (b) throw away favourite and still functioning pieces of clothing even if it's only the holes and stubborn stains keeping the things together.
In some ways, I think the world would be a much kinder and simpler place if there were more Akaky鈥檚 around, sure they鈥檒l never set the world alight 鈥� but, they also don鈥檛 seem to cause any aggravation and quietly go about their business. I was certainly on his side.
5 Stars
There are two Reading Group questions at the end of this story for those who鈥檝e read this and want to play
1. Do you sympathise with Akaky? Yes, I do, as said above 鈥� he was harmless and quietly went about his way. People 鈥榳ithout ambition鈥� needn鈥檛 be the subject of criticism 鈥� in many ways, we need more of them. Kind, quiet and dedicated. Go Akaky!
2. What is your reaction to the trouble that befalls him?. Well Mr Important Personage, is a complete and utter arrogant bastard. The antithesis of our hero Akaky. This guy is arrogant and a complete bully. The world is too full of people like this, making life miserable for those around them 鈥� believing they are entitled to do so purely because of the senior position they hold.
Some additional comments to my previous review. This second read was a lot of fun, as I obviously know our character a little better - and he still pulls at the heartstrings. I mean, the poor guy - all he wanted (and needed) was a new overcoat. In fact, when he asked his neighbour, a drunken tailor called Petrovich.
Other aspects of this story stood out for me this time:
1. The Russian (or Gogol's) obsession with societal hierarchy. He certainly pokes fun at this.
2. Some of the things poor Akaky needs to do for some months to save for his new overcoat include - stop drinking tea in the evenings, stop using candles (if he needed to do some of his copying at night he would use his land-lady's candle-light, he would have to walk/step/tiptoe lightly on his feet so as not to wear out his shoes (Bahahahahaha - sorry Akaky), he would avoid sending his clothes to the laundry lady so often - thus making his undies and sockes last longer - both in vivo and their shelf-life. This last fact - and whole sordid episode of underpants was mentioned in my first review below. It's a subject I am passionate about but did cause an unecessary stir in the comments section :))
3. The uptight Important Personage, who Akaky needed to help him find his stolen overcoat was a funny character - but he took himself very seriously of course as he was a very very senior important person. Some of the important personage's most common phrases used when people approached him for assistance were a) "How dare you?, b) "Do you know who you're talking too?" and c) "Do you realise who is standing before you?" - I almost wet myself laughing when I read that - it is just brilliantly funny, and Gogal made me read it again and again.
Anyway another 5-star read. Next, will be Diary of a Madman in a month or so, I cant gobble up all my Gogols to soon.
Previous review from 2021
Sometimes the best reading experiences are the little ones that pop-up out of nowhere, just like The Overcoat by Nikloai Gogol.
This story centres around Akaky Akakievich Shoenik a lowly copying clerk for The Department in St Petersburg, Russia. He is a simple man, doesn鈥檛 want much 鈥� he鈥檚 happiest copying documents, in fact he even does it in his spare time! His co-workers rib him relentlessly, but he takes it 鈥� one can only feel sorry for this quiet, unassuming guy.
Poor Akaky has an overcoat, and it鈥檚 very worn and is the cause of much piss-taking in the office. But the threadbare garment gets to the stage where it needs to be repaired (again) or replaced (God forbid!). Enter the half-pickled Petrovich, his local tailor. Akaky needs to negotiate with the hungover Petrovich for the repair or replacement of the coat. This is where things get interesting.
Anyway - he only gets to wear his new coat for a night - as it is stolen.
Eventually Akaky comes across an Important Personage - I love that moniker 鈥� and the whole fate of Akaky is turned on its head.
This story has a dark, miserable element to it for sure. Its grim, life is hard 鈥� a world without joy. It鈥檚 almost Kafkaesque in some ways, particularly in the closing pages. I loved this.
Interesting observation: Akaky, operated on a roster of two pairs of underpants! I must say this makes my dedicated team of ten pairs a little excessive, I may need to scale back and get some of that all too precious drawer space back!!
Akaky is a man after my own heart 鈥� why throw away perfectly good clothes when they are still wearable? I have never understood people who (a) buy clothes other than when totally necessary and (b) throw away favourite and still functioning pieces of clothing even if it's only the holes and stubborn stains keeping the things together.
In some ways, I think the world would be a much kinder and simpler place if there were more Akaky鈥檚 around, sure they鈥檒l never set the world alight 鈥� but, they also don鈥檛 seem to cause any aggravation and quietly go about their business. I was certainly on his side.
5 Stars
There are two Reading Group questions at the end of this story for those who鈥檝e read this and want to play
1. Do you sympathise with Akaky? Yes, I do, as said above 鈥� he was harmless and quietly went about his way. People 鈥榳ithout ambition鈥� needn鈥檛 be the subject of criticism 鈥� in many ways, we need more of them. Kind, quiet and dedicated. Go Akaky!
2. What is your reaction to the trouble that befalls him?. Well Mr Important Personage, is a complete and utter arrogant bastard. The antithesis of our hero Akaky. This guy is arrogant and a complete bully. The world is too full of people like this, making life miserable for those around them 鈥� believing they are entitled to do so purely because of the senior position they hold.
August 27, 2021
My first contact with Gogol, and certainly not my last.
This little book tells the story of Akakiy Akakievitch, a certain official in a certain department where nobody showed him any sign of respect, being mocked by his coworkers. I believe that must be one of the worst things that may happen to a human being: realising that high school did not end (it doesn't bring back good memories to many people). The bullying, the bad jokes, the embarrassing moments that make you gently ask the ground to eat you alive, the psychological and emotional harm, all of that now at your workplace? You have to love the irony.
The Overcoat is, well, a story about an overcoat. It seems to have more importance than Akakiy himself, the responsible guy with the unfortunate name. That's another thing: mothers, what are you thinking about when you give your children ridiculous names? Please, spare them a lot of trouble, save yourselves a lot of money in psychologists and start naming your kids properly. I don't know why they don't change their own name into some fruit, weird magicians, comic superheroes, cars, cardinal points or anything else they seem to love. Especially you, celebrity people who don't know I exist and won't read this in your entire life.
Rant officially over. (If you search for "Akakiy Akakievitch", you'll understand. I had to do that because I wanted to know why the author spent several lines explaining how he got his name and, of course, I don't speak Russian.)
As I was saying, this book is about And then something happened...
I loved this short story; it contains some beautiful and heartfelt lines...
...that reflect society, then and now. Everything seems to change but the most significant things don't change that much. That's one of the reasons I love literature. Books written hundreds of years ago talking about situations, attitudes, emotions, ways of thinking that we still see, experience and feel nowadays. The responses of the general population towards routine, overbearing bureaucracy, discrimination, injustice, exploitation or alienation haven't changed so much throughout history. Not all writers have what it takes to explore these universal emotions and write something you can immediately relate to. But Gogol seems to be one of them. He had that keen eye meant to observe individuals and humanity as a whole and could write about it so vividly (I could totally see my previous boss in some passages).
Gogol's influence on Russian literature is unquestionable. Dostoyevsky, Bulgakov, even Kafka, so my favourite authors are all connected here.
The Overcoat is a short story that speaks volumes. Do not miss it.
Sep 7, 2013
* Also on .
This little book tells the story of Akakiy Akakievitch, a certain official in a certain department where nobody showed him any sign of respect, being mocked by his coworkers. I believe that must be one of the worst things that may happen to a human being: realising that high school did not end (it doesn't bring back good memories to many people). The bullying, the bad jokes, the embarrassing moments that make you gently ask the ground to eat you alive, the psychological and emotional harm, all of that now at your workplace? You have to love the irony.
The Overcoat is, well, a story about an overcoat. It seems to have more importance than Akakiy himself, the responsible guy with the unfortunate name. That's another thing: mothers, what are you thinking about when you give your children ridiculous names? Please, spare them a lot of trouble, save yourselves a lot of money in psychologists and start naming your kids properly. I don't know why they don't change their own name into some fruit, weird magicians, comic superheroes, cars, cardinal points or anything else they seem to love. Especially you, celebrity people who don't know I exist and won't read this in your entire life.
Rant officially over. (If you search for "Akakiy Akakievitch", you'll understand. I had to do that because I wanted to know why the author spent several lines explaining how he got his name and, of course, I don't speak Russian.)
As I was saying, this book is about And then something happened...
I loved this short story; it contains some beautiful and heartfelt lines...
...and many a time afterwards, in the course of his life, shuddered at seeing how much inhumanity there is in man, how much savage coarseness is concealed beneath delicate, refined worldliness, and even, O God! in that man whom the world acknowledges as honorable and noble.
...that reflect society, then and now. Everything seems to change but the most significant things don't change that much. That's one of the reasons I love literature. Books written hundreds of years ago talking about situations, attitudes, emotions, ways of thinking that we still see, experience and feel nowadays. The responses of the general population towards routine, overbearing bureaucracy, discrimination, injustice, exploitation or alienation haven't changed so much throughout history. Not all writers have what it takes to explore these universal emotions and write something you can immediately relate to. But Gogol seems to be one of them. He had that keen eye meant to observe individuals and humanity as a whole and could write about it so vividly (I could totally see my previous boss in some passages).
Gogol's influence on Russian literature is unquestionable. Dostoyevsky, Bulgakov, even Kafka, so my favourite authors are all connected here.
The Overcoat is a short story that speaks volumes. Do not miss it.
Sep 7, 2013
* Also on .
May 17, 2022
A tragic, Kafkaesque* morality tale about social isolation, bureaucracy, and the danger of judging by appearances.
Akakii has a menial office job in a department where no one respects him and promotion is unlikely. But he is dutiful and never complains, 鈥渃ontent with his fate鈥�.
When his threadbare overcoat cannot hold yet another repair, he saves up for a year to afford a new one, excitedly planning the design with a tailor. The coat is worth the wait and sacrifices. For the first time in his life, he feels confident, visible, and respected by colleagues and strangers alike. But it seems more like mockery that he doesn鈥檛 recognise (he comes across as being on the autistic spectrum).
A twist sends him on a wild goose chase through officialdom, never able to find the right person, or to have followed the correct procedure. The ending is Dickensian, but also with echoes of Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener (see my review HERE).
Image: Cover by Igor Grabar, 1890s ()
*As clarified in comments, Kafka came after Gogol, and quite possibly read him (he certainly read other Russian greats). However, Kafkaesque is a familiar term and concept in English, whereas Gogolesque is sadly not.
More Gogol
I鈥檝e reviewed four Gogol short stories, including this, in a GR review, HERE.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story .
You can join the group here.
Akakii has a menial office job in a department where no one respects him and promotion is unlikely. But he is dutiful and never complains, 鈥渃ontent with his fate鈥�.
When his threadbare overcoat cannot hold yet another repair, he saves up for a year to afford a new one, excitedly planning the design with a tailor. The coat is worth the wait and sacrifices. For the first time in his life, he feels confident, visible, and respected by colleagues and strangers alike. But it seems more like mockery that he doesn鈥檛 recognise (he comes across as being on the autistic spectrum).
A twist sends him on a wild goose chase through officialdom, never able to find the right person, or to have followed the correct procedure. The ending is Dickensian, but also with echoes of Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener (see my review HERE).
Image: Cover by Igor Grabar, 1890s ()
*As clarified in comments, Kafka came after Gogol, and quite possibly read him (he certainly read other Russian greats). However, Kafkaesque is a familiar term and concept in English, whereas Gogolesque is sadly not.
More Gogol
I鈥檝e reviewed four Gogol short stories, including this, in a GR review, HERE.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story .
You can join the group here.
September 20, 2018
鈥淲e all come out of Gogol's 'Overcoat" Fyodor Dostoevsky "
April 20, 2025
Here is a novel as we like them: an in-depth character, wherein, in a few pages, we identify the personality, a framework that holds from start to finish, a turnaround, and a clear and clean end.
Here, we find a poor copyist with only a worn-out hood with holes on his back. That's his dream: to be able to afford a coat. He saves every ruble until he can finally afford it!
Yes, but here it is: a few days after his previous purchases, he gets robbed, and everything drops until it dies.
And there, Gogol takes a big step towards mysticism by making his character return as a ghost-like masked avenger who strips the inhabitants of their coats. He will not find rest until he has obtained the one who will bring him death!
Here, we find a poor copyist with only a worn-out hood with holes on his back. That's his dream: to be able to afford a coat. He saves every ruble until he can finally afford it!
Yes, but here it is: a few days after his previous purchases, he gets robbed, and everything drops until it dies.
And there, Gogol takes a big step towards mysticism by making his character return as a ghost-like masked avenger who strips the inhabitants of their coats. He will not find rest until he has obtained the one who will bring him death!
October 16, 2019
As铆 desapareci贸 un ser humano a quien nadie defendi贸, a quien nadie hab铆a querido, por quien nadie se interes贸鈥� Fue un ser que soport贸 humildemente las burlas de sus colegas y que baj贸 a la tumba sin haber realizado nada extraordinario.
Yo siempre voy a trazar un tri谩ngulo de similitud entre el personaje Akaky Ak谩kievich con Gregor Samsa de 鈥淟a Metamorfosis鈥� de Franz Kafka y 鈥淏artleby el escribiente鈥� de Herman Melville (y tal vez podr铆a incluir a un cuarto personaje, me refiero a 鈥淲akefield鈥� de Nathaniel Hawthorne).
Nik贸lai G贸gol, con una econom铆a de fuerzas y una austeridad de di谩logos entre los personajes sumado a la poca informaci贸n que nos brinda de ellos cre贸 un cuento maravilloso que para aquellos desprevenidos que creen que su principio es un tanto c贸mico, de esto no tiene nada y va girando hacia una tragedia anunciada.
Akaky ha nacido para perder. Es un 鈥減rofesional de la derrota鈥� como llamaba Borges a los personajes kafkianos y sufre. De los personajes comentados creo que junto con Samsa es el que m谩s desprecio sufre. Gregor es discriminado por su propia familia mientras que Akaky es objeto de burlas por parte de sus propios compa帽eros de trabajo, que lo tildan como un completo don nadie: 鈥溌茅jenme en paz! 驴Por qu茅 me ofenden?鈥� Y simult谩neamente con estas palabras sonaban otras: 鈥淪oy tu hermano鈥�. Y el pobre joven se tapaba la cara con las manos y se estremec铆a, consciente de la crueldad de los hombres y de la burda estupidez que se ocultaba bajo la refinada y culta capa de la vida humana.
La obsesi贸n, que es una de las caracter铆sticas principales de este cuento, se centra en su capote ra铆do y casi inservible, que va form谩ndole la idea primero, de remendarlo (aunque ya no se pueda) y luego el de inferirse mil privaciones para poder ahorrar esos ochenta rublos que le permitan a Petrovich, su sastre, confeccionarle uno nuevo.
Pero, claro est谩, esta no es una historia con final feliz, como no lo es de ninguna manera ni 鈥淟a metamorfosis鈥� ni 鈥淏artleby, el escribiente鈥�. M谩s que cuentos son cr贸nicas de batallas perdidas. Como en los otros cuentos sucede que a Akaky todo le cuesta horrores: ahorrar dinero, sufrir el fr铆o y privaciones, eliminar las cenas, y especialmente pedirle un aumento a su superior que es un simple empleado que de buenas a primeras se transforma en una "persona importante鈥�, como lo define y llama el autor, transform谩ndose en un d茅spota que lo humilla sin piedad.
Akaky posee esa connotaci贸n que veremos en los personajes kafkianos, que son sometidos a un mundo injusto, que no los perdona y que les hace la vida dif铆cil. Ni que hablar del Bartleby de Melville quien 茅l mismo se impone la actitud de bajar los brazos para no luchar.
El posterior suceso que desencadena la debacle de Akaky ser谩 el golpe de gracia que lo termine de derrotar: "Akaky Ak谩kievich s贸lo se dio cuenta de c贸mo le quitaban el capote y le daban una patada que lo hac铆an caer sobre la nieve; luego no sinti贸 nada m谩s."
Lo que parec铆a una jocosa descripci贸n de un empleaducho de oficina termina como la dolorosa tragedia sobre la p茅rdida (otra de las caracter铆sticas m谩s sobresalientes de este cuento) para llegar a un final que difiere de los cuentos anteriores.
"El capote" tiene un final sobrenatural, de cuento fant谩stico y a partir de all铆, G贸gol intentar谩 reivindicar la integridad y el buen nombre de este personaje nacido y marcado para perder.
Akaky Ak谩kievich terminar谩 ganando (a su manera) su partida, pero para ellos debemos atravesar unas cuantas p谩ginas de sufrimientos.
Creo que aqu铆 esta la grandeza de G贸gol: la de permitirnos re铆r pero tambi茅n sentirnos tristes. Son pocos los autores que pueden combinar estos elementos y salir airosos, pero bueno, estamos hablando del gran Nik贸lai G贸gol, uno de los padres de la literatura rusa junto con Alexandr Pushkin y uno de los autores que siempre seguir茅 releyendo y disfrutando.
Yo siempre voy a trazar un tri谩ngulo de similitud entre el personaje Akaky Ak谩kievich con Gregor Samsa de 鈥淟a Metamorfosis鈥� de Franz Kafka y 鈥淏artleby el escribiente鈥� de Herman Melville (y tal vez podr铆a incluir a un cuarto personaje, me refiero a 鈥淲akefield鈥� de Nathaniel Hawthorne).
Nik贸lai G贸gol, con una econom铆a de fuerzas y una austeridad de di谩logos entre los personajes sumado a la poca informaci贸n que nos brinda de ellos cre贸 un cuento maravilloso que para aquellos desprevenidos que creen que su principio es un tanto c贸mico, de esto no tiene nada y va girando hacia una tragedia anunciada.
Akaky ha nacido para perder. Es un 鈥減rofesional de la derrota鈥� como llamaba Borges a los personajes kafkianos y sufre. De los personajes comentados creo que junto con Samsa es el que m谩s desprecio sufre. Gregor es discriminado por su propia familia mientras que Akaky es objeto de burlas por parte de sus propios compa帽eros de trabajo, que lo tildan como un completo don nadie: 鈥溌茅jenme en paz! 驴Por qu茅 me ofenden?鈥� Y simult谩neamente con estas palabras sonaban otras: 鈥淪oy tu hermano鈥�. Y el pobre joven se tapaba la cara con las manos y se estremec铆a, consciente de la crueldad de los hombres y de la burda estupidez que se ocultaba bajo la refinada y culta capa de la vida humana.
La obsesi贸n, que es una de las caracter铆sticas principales de este cuento, se centra en su capote ra铆do y casi inservible, que va form谩ndole la idea primero, de remendarlo (aunque ya no se pueda) y luego el de inferirse mil privaciones para poder ahorrar esos ochenta rublos que le permitan a Petrovich, su sastre, confeccionarle uno nuevo.
Pero, claro est谩, esta no es una historia con final feliz, como no lo es de ninguna manera ni 鈥淟a metamorfosis鈥� ni 鈥淏artleby, el escribiente鈥�. M谩s que cuentos son cr贸nicas de batallas perdidas. Como en los otros cuentos sucede que a Akaky todo le cuesta horrores: ahorrar dinero, sufrir el fr铆o y privaciones, eliminar las cenas, y especialmente pedirle un aumento a su superior que es un simple empleado que de buenas a primeras se transforma en una "persona importante鈥�, como lo define y llama el autor, transform谩ndose en un d茅spota que lo humilla sin piedad.
Akaky posee esa connotaci贸n que veremos en los personajes kafkianos, que son sometidos a un mundo injusto, que no los perdona y que les hace la vida dif铆cil. Ni que hablar del Bartleby de Melville quien 茅l mismo se impone la actitud de bajar los brazos para no luchar.
El posterior suceso que desencadena la debacle de Akaky ser谩 el golpe de gracia que lo termine de derrotar: "Akaky Ak谩kievich s贸lo se dio cuenta de c贸mo le quitaban el capote y le daban una patada que lo hac铆an caer sobre la nieve; luego no sinti贸 nada m谩s."
Lo que parec铆a una jocosa descripci贸n de un empleaducho de oficina termina como la dolorosa tragedia sobre la p茅rdida (otra de las caracter铆sticas m谩s sobresalientes de este cuento) para llegar a un final que difiere de los cuentos anteriores.
"El capote" tiene un final sobrenatural, de cuento fant谩stico y a partir de all铆, G贸gol intentar谩 reivindicar la integridad y el buen nombre de este personaje nacido y marcado para perder.
Akaky Ak谩kievich terminar谩 ganando (a su manera) su partida, pero para ellos debemos atravesar unas cuantas p谩ginas de sufrimientos.
Creo que aqu铆 esta la grandeza de G贸gol: la de permitirnos re铆r pero tambi茅n sentirnos tristes. Son pocos los autores que pueden combinar estos elementos y salir airosos, pero bueno, estamos hablando del gran Nik贸lai G贸gol, uno de los padres de la literatura rusa junto con Alexandr Pushkin y uno de los autores que siempre seguir茅 releyendo y disfrutando.
March 27, 2021
Mi m谩s sincera enhorabuena a la ilustradora de la edici贸n que N贸rdica hizo de 鈥淓l capote鈥�, Noem铆 Villamuza. Fant谩sticos dibujos y acertad铆sima la elecci贸n que hizo la editorial para ilustrar la portada. En ella se ve a Akaki Ak谩kievich, un hombre mortecino, c谩ndido, un poco asustado, poquita cosa dentro del capote que con muchos sacrificios consigui贸 mandar hacerse y por el que, tristemente, su 鈥渧ida se llen贸 de luz y de sentido por un instante鈥�. Un deseo, quiz谩s el 煤nico que tuvo en su vida, por un objeto material que lleg贸 a modificar su forma de sentirse en el mundo y que, como todo lo material, es perecedero. Un deseo que rompi贸 su anodina rutina en la que disfrutaba haciendo bien su humilde trabajo de copista hasta el punto de acostarse cada noche satisfecho con su vida y ello pese a las burlas de los compa帽eros y el desprecio de sus superiores que estoicamente aguantaba d铆a tras d铆a. Un hombre insignificante en un mundo indiferente cuando no cruel y, al fin y al cabo, igual de rid铆culo y grotesco en sus rid铆culas y grotescas ocupaciones, en sus rid铆culas y grotescas creencias.
P.D. Al personaje se le suele relacionar con el Bartleby de Melville o el Gregorio Samsa de Kafka, incluso se le califica de antecedente de ambos. Por mi parte no he encontrado m谩s relaci贸n que la de ser todos ellos seres inadaptados en un mundo incomprensible y que los tres cuentos son lo suficientemente abiertos como para aguantar interpretaciones diferentes acordes al car谩cter de cada lector, lo que hace de ellos grandes cl谩sicos.
P.P.D. En este sentido, mi car谩cter me impide interpretar el final del relato en t茅rminos fant谩sticos, y ver m谩s bien en ello un reflejo de la est煤pida credulidad humana tan bien utilizada por los m谩s listos.
P.P.P.D. Y en este sentido, me hizo mucha gracia leer esta queja, una triste e irritante defensa que siguen utilizando muchos cuando se les critica por sus actos personales. Rid铆culo y grotesco que siga funcionando.
鈥淓n los tiempos que corren, cada particular considera que si se toca a su persona se ofende al conjunto de la sociedad鈥�
March 19, 2021
賵賴賰匕丕 夭丕賱 賵丕禺鬲賮賶 廿賱賶 丕賱兀亘丿 廿賳爻丕賳 賱賲 賷賮賰乇 兀丨丿 賲賳 丕賱禺賱賯 賮賷 丨賲丕賷鬲賴貙 賵賱賲 賷賰賳 毓夭賷夭丕 毓賱賶 兀丨丿
賵賱賲 賷賰賳 兀丨丿 賷賴鬲賲 亘兀賲乇賴 賱丕 賲賳 賯乇賷亘 賵賱丕 賲賳 亘毓賷丿
賵賱丕 丨鬲賶 毓丕賱賽賲 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷 丕賱匕賷 賱賲 賷賰賳 賱賷賯丕賵賲 睾乇夭 丿亘賵爻 賮賷 噩賳丕丨 匕亘丕亘丞 賲賳夭賱賷丞 賵賮丨氐賴丕 鬲丨鬲 賲噩賴乇賴
廿賳爻丕賳 鬲丨賲賱 賴夭亍 賵爻禺乇賷丞 夭賲賱丕卅賴 賲賳 睾賷乇 兀賳 賷鬲匕賲乇 賵賷毓亘乇 毓賳 丕丨鬲噩丕噩賴
廿賳爻丕賳 匕賴亘 廿賱賶 賲乇賯丿賴 丕賱兀禺賷乇 亘賱丕 兀丿賳賶 囟噩丞
赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌赌
兀賱丕 鬲鬲賮賯 賲毓賷 賮賷 兀賳 丕賱賯氐氐 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賰賷 毓賳 丕賱賲賴賲卮賷賳 賴賷 丕賱兀毓馗賲 亘賷賳 賰賱 賲丕 賰購鬲亘 賮賷 丕賱兀丿亘責
賷匕賰乇賳賷 兀賰丕賰賷 兀賰丕賰賷賮賷鬲卮 亘賲兀爻丕丞 賲賵馗賮 鬲卮賷禺賵賮
賲兀爻丕丞 兀睾賱亘 賲賳 賷毓賷卮賵賳 毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱兀乇囟 賵賷賲賵鬲賵賳 賰丕賱賴賵丕賲
賴賲 賲噩乇丿 兀乇賯丕賲 賮賷 爻噩賱丕鬲 賵丕丨氐丕卅賷丕鬲
賱丕 亘卮乇 賲賳 賱丨賲 賵丿賲 賵兀毓氐丕亘 賷丨賱賲賵賳 兀丨賱丕賲丕 亘爻賷胤丞
賵賷賳鬲馗乇賵賳 賵賷賲賵鬲賵賳 賲賳 丕賱丕賳鬲馗丕乇
賵賱毓賱賴賲 丕賱丌賳 兀卮亘丕丨丕 鬲爻賰賳 兀賲丕賰賳 胤丕賱賲丕 鬲丕賯鬲 廿賱賷賴丕
賵鬲丨丕賵賱 鬲毓賵賷囟 賲丕 賮丕鬲賴丕 兀賵 丕賱丕賳鬲賯丕賲 賱丨乇賲丕賳賴丕 兀賵 鬲賴賲賷卮賴丕
賷乇賷丿 兀賰丕賰賷賮賷鬲卮 丕賱賲爻賰賷賳 賲毓胤賮丕 賷禺賮賷 賴賷卅鬲賴 賵丨丕賱賴
賷禺賮賷 賮賯乇 賲賱亘爻賴 賵亘丐爻賴 賵兀丨賱丕賲賴 丕賱爻丕匕噩丞 丕賱賲賯鬲賵賱丞
賰賲丕 賷禺賮賷 亘禺胤賴 丕賱噩賲賷賱 鬲賮丕賴丞 賲丕 賷賰鬲亘 賵賷賳爻禺
賱丕 賷乇賶 賳賮爻賴 亘毓賷賵賳 兀丨丿 爻賵丕賴
賵賱丕 賷亘丕賱賷 爻賵賶 亘毓丕賱賲賴 丕賱氐睾賷乇 丕賱賲丿賮賵賳 賮賷 睾乇賮丞 鬲賰賮賷賴 亘丕賱賰丕丿
賯丕賳毓 鬲賲丕賲丕 .. 賲爻鬲爻賱賲 鬲賲丕賲丕 .. 賲爻賰賷賳 鬲賲丕賲丕
賷乇鬲賾賯 賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賲乇丞 亘毓丿 賲乇丞 丨鬲賶 氐丕乇 賲夭賯丕 .. 賵賷爻鬲賲乇 賮賷 丕賱賳爻禺 亘賴賲丞 賵賵賱毓
賵賷賮乇丨 賰丕賱兀胤賮丕賱 亘丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕賱噩丿賷丿
賵賷賲賵鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨夭賳 丨賷賳 賷賮賯丿賴
賷賯賵賱賵賳 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱乇賵爻賷賾丞 禺乇噩鬲 賲賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓胤賮
賷賮賴賲 丕賱賲乇亍 丕賱丌賳 賱賲丕 賴賷 亘賴匕賴 丕賱毓馗賲丞
...
December 8, 2022
The Overcoat tells the story of life and death of one Akaky Akakievich, a government official in a certain department. The first part of the story introduces us to the personality of Akaky and his poor living conditions. The job though satisfying doesn't earn enough to keep him well clothed and bred. He is extremely reserved and becomes a constant subject of ridicule. Gogol plants Akaky well in the reader鈥檚 hearts in this first part arousing their compassion. Akaky, after much labour and suffering, becomes a proud owner of an overcoat. And here ends the first part of the story.
In the second part of the story, the reader learns the misfortune of Akaky. He is robbed of his overcoat; his efforts at recovering his lost property are rendered futile. His disappointment over his loss and the exposure to ill weather in its absence sees him to an early grave. But here the story gets better, for Akaky comes back from the dead to seek justice and takes revenge from those who had failed to help him!
This little story tells many things: It exposes the poverty-stricken lives of middle class working people; it shows the uncompassionate and bullying nature of the humans; it brings to light the inefficiency and unjust and unsatisfactory conduct of government bureaucrats of Russia under the Imperial regime. Akaky鈥檚 ghost haunting the officials is kind of a hint that someday the tolerance for such governance might end in a catastrophe (as was seen years later).
Gogol is said to be a pioneer in realistic writing. His writing as is portrayed in The Overcoat is touched on real characters and real themes that concern human society. Dostoevsky once said that 鈥淲e all come from Gogol鈥檚 Overcoat鈥� and this is a very good indication that how influential Gogol鈥檚 work had been on Russian literature.
There is an easy grace in his writing which makes it undemanding to read. It is one of the best attributes of his writing. His direct and at times sardonic writing is quite appealing. It is not right to draw comparisons between the literary masters especially from different literary traditions, but so far the writing is concerned, I couldn鈥檛 help comparing his writing with that of Charles Dickens and Oscar Wild.
Overall, I enjoyed this short work. Personally, I cannot place Gogol in the same light as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, but I do like his style.
In the second part of the story, the reader learns the misfortune of Akaky. He is robbed of his overcoat; his efforts at recovering his lost property are rendered futile. His disappointment over his loss and the exposure to ill weather in its absence sees him to an early grave. But here the story gets better, for Akaky comes back from the dead to seek justice and takes revenge from those who had failed to help him!
This little story tells many things: It exposes the poverty-stricken lives of middle class working people; it shows the uncompassionate and bullying nature of the humans; it brings to light the inefficiency and unjust and unsatisfactory conduct of government bureaucrats of Russia under the Imperial regime. Akaky鈥檚 ghost haunting the officials is kind of a hint that someday the tolerance for such governance might end in a catastrophe (as was seen years later).
Gogol is said to be a pioneer in realistic writing. His writing as is portrayed in The Overcoat is touched on real characters and real themes that concern human society. Dostoevsky once said that 鈥淲e all come from Gogol鈥檚 Overcoat鈥� and this is a very good indication that how influential Gogol鈥檚 work had been on Russian literature.
There is an easy grace in his writing which makes it undemanding to read. It is one of the best attributes of his writing. His direct and at times sardonic writing is quite appealing. It is not right to draw comparisons between the literary masters especially from different literary traditions, but so far the writing is concerned, I couldn鈥檛 help comparing his writing with that of Charles Dickens and Oscar Wild.
Overall, I enjoyed this short work. Personally, I cannot place Gogol in the same light as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, but I do like his style.
March 1, 2023
丕氐丿賯丕卅賶 丕賱賯乇丕亍 賷毓賱賲賵賳 賲丿賶 毓卮賯賷 賱賱賰鬲丕亘丕鬲 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞 賵 丕賳賴丕 丕賱賲賮囟賱丞 賱賶 賵 亘賵噩賴 丕賱禺氐賵氐 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 賵 賰丕賳鬲 丿丕卅賲丕賸 鬲鬲乇丿丿 噩賲賱丞 毓賱賶 賲爻丕賲毓賶 賰丕賳鬲 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 " 賰賱賳丕 禺乇噩賳丕 賲賳 賲毓胤賮 噩賵噩賵賱 " 賵 丕爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱丕賳 丕賳 丕賮賴賲 賲丿賶 毓賲賯 賴匕丞 丕賱噩賲賱丞 賵 鬲丕孬賷乇賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱丕丿亘 丕賱乇賵爻賶 賰賱賴 賵 丕賱毓丕賱賲賶 賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賮賴賲鬲 丕賰孬乇 噩賲賱丞 睾丕亘乇賷賱 睾丕乇爻賷丕 賲丕乇賰賷夭: "廿賳 丕賱賵丕賯毓賷丞 丕賱爻丨乇賷丞 賱兀賲賷乇賰丕 丕賱賱丕鬲賷賳賷丞 賲丿賷賳丞 廿賱賶 丨丿 賰亘賷乇 賱賯氐丞 (丕賱賲毓胤賮) 賱睾賵睾賵賱 ".
噩賵噩賵賱 丕氐乇 賲賳 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 丕賳 賷丨賰賶 亘囟賲賷乇 丕賱賲鬲賰賱賲 賵 丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳賴 賰丕賳 爻亘亘 賮賶 丕賱鬲丕孬乇 丕賰孬乇 賱丕賳賶 丕氐亘丨鬲 賰兀賳賷 卮亘丨 丕乇賶 賲丕 賷丨丿孬 丕賲丕賲賶 賵 賱丕 丕爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱鬲丿禺賱 賱賲賳毓賴 丕賵 丕亘丿丕亍 丕賶 乇丿 賮毓賱 賵 丕賱賱睾丞 丕賱爻丕禺乇丞 賵 丕賱鬲賴賰賲賷丞 賮賶 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲禺鬲賱賮 賰孬賷乇丕賸 毓賳 賱睾丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 , 丕丨爻丕爻 丕賱賯賴乇 賵 丕賱囟毓賮 賰丕賳 賷卮毓 亘賷賳 丕賱爻胤賵乇 賵 賰丕賳賰 毓賱賶 毓賱賲 丕賳 賴匕丞 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賳 鬲賳鬲賴賶 亘賳賴丕賷丞 爻丕禺乇丞 丕賵 爻毓賷丿丞 賵 賯丿 賰丕賳 賵 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 賲兀爻丕賵賷丞 .
丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 氐賵乇鬲 賱賰 賰賲 丕賳 丕賰丕賰賷 囟毓賷賮 丕賱噩爻丿 貙 亘丕卅爻 貙 囟毓賷賮 丕賱亘氐乇 貙 賵噩賴賴 賲賱卅 亘丕賱鬲噩丕毓賷丿 賰賱賴丕 賱乇爻賲 賲丿賶 賵囟丕毓丞 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 孬賲 亘毓丿 丕賳 丕賳鬲賴賶 賲賳 氐賮丕鬲賴 丕賱噩爻丿賷丞 亘丿丕 亘賲賰丕賳鬲賴 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賰賲賵馗賮 氐睾賷乇 賱丕 賷賯賵賶 毓賱賶 卮卅 賵賱丕 賷丨鬲乇賲賴 丕丨丿 賮賶 丕賱賲賰鬲亘 賵 賷爻禺乇賵丕 賲賳賴 丿丕卅賲丕 賵 賯丿 鬲噩賱賶 賴匕丕 丕賱賲卮賴丿 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳賴 賮賶 :
賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱匕賶 丕氐亘丨 亘丕賱賷丕賸 賲賳 賰孬乇丞 丕賱乇賯毓 賱賲 賷噩丿 丕賱禺賷丕胤 丕賶 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕禺乇賶 賱丕氐賱丕丨賴 賵 賳氐丨賴 亘鬲賮氐賷賱 賵丕丨丿 噩丿賷丿 賵 賱賰賳 賯賱丞 丕賱賲丕賱 賵 丕賱賮賯乇 噩毓賱賴 賷丨乇賲 賳賮爻賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賰賱 賱賲丿丞 毓丕賲 賵 賷毓賷卮 毓賱賶 賵噩亘丞 賵丕丨丿丞 賮賶 丨丕賱丞 鬲賯卮賮賷丞 賲丐賱賲丞 賮賯胤 丨鬲賶 賷賵賮乇 賲毓胤賮 噩丿賷丿 賷賯賷賴 賲賳 亘乇丿 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賮賱賲 賷氐亘丨 丕賱賲毓胤賮 賮賯胤 丕丿丕亍 賱賱丿賮亍 亘賱 丕氐亘丨 丨賱賲 毓賱賶 賵卮賰 丕賳 賷氐亘丨 丨賯賷賯丞 丕禺賷乇丕賸 , 毓賳丿賲丕 賷爻鬲賱賲 丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕禺賷乇丕賸 鬲乇賶 亘賵囟賵丨 賰賲 丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕乇噩毓 賱賴 孬賯鬲賴 亘賳賮爻賴 賱賰賳 丕賱賲賵馗賮賷賳 丕爻鬲賲乇賵丕 賮賶 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 丕乇丕丿賵丕 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕賱 賲毓賴 賱丕爻鬲賰賲丕賱 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 , 丕毓鬲夭丕夭賴 亘賳賮爻賴 賰丕賳 丨賱賲 賵 丕賱賲毓胤賮 賰丕賳 丨賷丕丞 噩丿賷丿丞 賱賴 賱賰賳 丕賱丨賱賲 丕賱噩賲賷賱 賱賲 賷胤賵賱 賰孬賷乇丕賸 賵 鬲賲 爻乇賯鬲賴 賱賷賱丕 賵 賴賵 毓丕卅丿 貙 賱賷乇噩毓 鬲丕賳賶 賱賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵 毓賳丿賲丕 賷胤賱亘 丕賱賲爻丕毓丿丞 賲賳 卮禺氐 匕丐 卮丕賳 賷鬲胤丕賵賱 毓賱賷賴 賮賶 賲丨丕賵賱賴 賱丕乇囟丕亍 賳賯氐賴 丕賱卮禺氐賶 .
丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 睾乇賷亘丞 賱賰賳賴丕 乇賲夭賷丞 賵 丕爻賯丕胤 賱賱鬲賲乇丿 賵 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵 賰丕賳 丨丕賱賴 賷賯賵賱 丕賳賲丕 賱賱氐亘乇 丨丿賵丿 , 賱賲 鬲賰賳 鬲噩乇亘鬲賶 丕賱丕賵賱賶 賲毓 噩賵噩賵賱 賮賶 丕賱丕賳賮 賵 乇賲夭賷鬲賴丕 賵 丕爻賯丕胤鬲賴丕 賲賵賮賯丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賶 賱賰賳賷 丕乇賮毓 賱賴 丕賱賯亘毓丞 賮賶 丕賱賲毓胤賮 .
噩賵噩賵賱 丕氐乇 賲賳 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 丕賳 賷丨賰賶 亘囟賲賷乇 丕賱賲鬲賰賱賲 賵 丕毓鬲賯丿 丕賳賴 賰丕賳 爻亘亘 賮賶 丕賱鬲丕孬乇 丕賰孬乇 賱丕賳賶 丕氐亘丨鬲 賰兀賳賷 卮亘丨 丕乇賶 賲丕 賷丨丿孬 丕賲丕賲賶 賵 賱丕 丕爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱鬲丿禺賱 賱賲賳毓賴 丕賵 丕亘丿丕亍 丕賶 乇丿 賮毓賱 賵 丕賱賱睾丞 丕賱爻丕禺乇丞 賵 丕賱鬲賴賰賲賷丞 賮賶 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲禺鬲賱賮 賰孬賷乇丕賸 毓賳 賱睾丞 鬲卮賷禺賵賮 , 丕丨爻丕爻 丕賱賯賴乇 賵 丕賱囟毓賮 賰丕賳 賷卮毓 亘賷賳 丕賱爻胤賵乇 賵 賰丕賳賰 毓賱賶 毓賱賲 丕賳 賴匕丞 丕賱賯氐丞 賱賳 鬲賳鬲賴賶 亘賳賴丕賷丞 爻丕禺乇丞 丕賵 爻毓賷丿丞 賵 賯丿 賰丕賳 賵 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 賲兀爻丕賵賷丞 .
丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 氐賵乇鬲 賱賰 賰賲 丕賳 丕賰丕賰賷 囟毓賷賮 丕賱噩爻丿 貙 亘丕卅爻 貙 囟毓賷賮 丕賱亘氐乇 貙 賵噩賴賴 賲賱卅 亘丕賱鬲噩丕毓賷丿 賰賱賴丕 賱乇爻賲 賲丿賶 賵囟丕毓丞 丕賱卮禺氐賷丞 孬賲 亘毓丿 丕賳 丕賳鬲賴賶 賲賳 氐賮丕鬲賴 丕賱噩爻丿賷丞 亘丿丕 亘賲賰丕賳鬲賴 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賰賲賵馗賮 氐睾賷乇 賱丕 賷賯賵賶 毓賱賶 卮卅 賵賱丕 賷丨鬲乇賲賴 丕丨丿 賮賶 丕賱賲賰鬲亘 賵 賷爻禺乇賵丕 賲賳賴 丿丕卅賲丕 賵 賯丿 鬲噩賱賶 賴匕丕 丕賱賲卮賴丿 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳賴 賮賶 :
" 賱賲 賷賰賳 賱賴 丕丨丿 賲賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲賱賷賳 賮賶 丕賱賲賰鬲亘 丕賶 丕丨鬲乇丕賲 貙 賮毓賳丿賲丕 賷丿禺賱 賱賲 賷亘賯 丕賱亘賵丕亘賵賳 噩丕賱爻賷賳 賮丨爻亘 賵 廿賲丕 賱賲 賷毓賷乇賵賴 丕賶 丕賴鬲賲丕賲 丕賵 亘賱賯賵丕 毓賱賷賴 賳馗乇丞 貙 賰賲丕 賱賵 賰丕賳 匕亘丕亘丞 賲賳夭賱 毓丕丿賷丞 賲乇賯鬲 毓亘乇 睾乇賮丞 丕賱噩賱賵爻 "
賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱匕賶 丕氐亘丨 亘丕賱賷丕賸 賲賳 賰孬乇丞 丕賱乇賯毓 賱賲 賷噩丿 丕賱禺賷丕胤 丕賶 賲丨丕賵賱丞 丕禺乇賶 賱丕氐賱丕丨賴 賵 賳氐丨賴 亘鬲賮氐賷賱 賵丕丨丿 噩丿賷丿 賵 賱賰賳 賯賱丞 丕賱賲丕賱 賵 丕賱賮賯乇 噩毓賱賴 賷丨乇賲 賳賮爻賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賰賱 賱賲丿丞 毓丕賲 賵 賷毓賷卮 毓賱賶 賵噩亘丞 賵丕丨丿丞 賮賶 丨丕賱丞 鬲賯卮賮賷丞 賲丐賱賲丞 賮賯胤 丨鬲賶 賷賵賮乇 賲毓胤賮 噩丿賷丿 賷賯賷賴 賲賳 亘乇丿 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 賮賱賲 賷氐亘丨 丕賱賲毓胤賮 賮賯胤 丕丿丕亍 賱賱丿賮亍 亘賱 丕氐亘丨 丨賱賲 毓賱賶 賵卮賰 丕賳 賷氐亘丨 丨賯賷賯丞 丕禺賷乇丕賸 , 毓賳丿賲丕 賷爻鬲賱賲 丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕禺賷乇丕賸 鬲乇賶 亘賵囟賵丨 賰賲 丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕乇噩毓 賱賴 孬賯鬲賴 亘賳賮爻賴 賱賰賳 丕賱賲賵馗賮賷賳 丕爻鬲賲乇賵丕 賮賶 丕賱爻禺乇賷丞 賵 丕乇丕丿賵丕 丕賱丕丨鬲賮丕賱 賲毓賴 賱丕爻鬲賰賲丕賱 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 , 丕毓鬲夭丕夭賴 亘賳賮爻賴 賰丕賳 丨賱賲 賵 丕賱賲毓胤賮 賰丕賳 丨賷丕丞 噩丿賷丿丞 賱賴 賱賰賳 丕賱丨賱賲 丕賱噩賲賷賱 賱賲 賷胤賵賱 賰孬賷乇丕賸 賵 鬲賲 爻乇賯鬲賴 賱賷賱丕 賵 賴賵 毓丕卅丿 貙 賱賷乇噩毓 鬲丕賳賶 賱賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵 毓賳丿賲丕 賷胤賱亘 丕賱賲爻丕毓丿丞 賲賳 卮禺氐 匕丐 卮丕賳 賷鬲胤丕賵賱 毓賱賷賴 賮賶 賲丨丕賵賱賴 賱丕乇囟丕亍 賳賯氐賴 丕賱卮禺氐賶 .
丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰丕賳鬲 睾乇賷亘丞 賱賰賳賴丕 乇賲夭賷丞 賵 丕爻賯丕胤 賱賱鬲賲乇丿 賵 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵 賰丕賳 丨丕賱賴 賷賯賵賱 丕賳賲丕 賱賱氐亘乇 丨丿賵丿 , 賱賲 鬲賰賳 鬲噩乇亘鬲賶 丕賱丕賵賱賶 賲毓 噩賵噩賵賱 賮賶 丕賱丕賳賮 賵 乇賲夭賷鬲賴丕 賵 丕爻賯丕胤鬲賴丕 賲賵賮賯丞 亘丕賱賳爻亘丞 賱賶 賱賰賳賷 丕乇賮毓 賱賴 丕賱賯亘毓丞 賮賶 丕賱賲毓胤賮 .
July 17, 2021
Loved it!
July 5, 2016
I am aghast that it took me until the ripe old age I am today to read this wonderful short story. Don't let my story be yours. It takes 30 minutes to read. Invest it today.
Also, I read it because of Tadiana's most excellent review, to which I can add nothing of value. It's a must-read.
/review/show...
Also, I read it because of Tadiana's most excellent review, to which I can add nothing of value. It's a must-read.
/review/show...
August 31, 2018
I absolutely love it ... Kamaszkin as a tragic character always moves me ...
May 19, 2022
Given that there are almost an infinite number of topics one could discuss in The Overcoat, for this review I wanted to centre on the Narrator.
The Narrator, who speaks through the first-person plural (in the Royal 鈥淲e鈥�) comes across as unreliable 鈥� there are things he has forgotten (we cannot recall; memory fails us鈥�); he gets easily side-tracked in the story (the section on what being a VIP entails, although very funny, is too long a digression for a short story); and he can also focus on apparently irrelevant detail as if he were losing his bearings (the tailor has a big toe and an ugly nail..). But he also regularly provides several clues that aim at adding veracity to his story, insisting that he is not inventing things (his 'forgetting' indicates that the events he is narrated are not the product of his imagination - they really happened). A few times he addresses the reader directly, acknowledging that the medium is a text, and he shifts between functioning as an omniscient narrator and as someone who was a direct witness to the action (he seemed to be present at Akaky鈥檚 birth and christening).
The Narrator is also conscious that he is producing a literary work, and expresses that he鈥檇 rather not go into some details (such as any further information on the tailor Petrovich), he goes ahead nonetheless because literary tradition requires it .. as it is nowadays expected that the personality of every character in a story be clearly sketched out鈥�. In some instances he admits that he does not understand everything ( Why did he laugh?) or that he cannot get inside another person's mind. At one point he acknowledges that parts of the story (to whom the bounty/inheritance went) bore him (even the person who tells his tale took little interest in the matter), but again he feels under the literary obligation to at least mention them.
That he is an individual is proving by the timid inclusion of some of his 鈥榮mall鈥� prejudices 鈥� the dreadful Petersburg weather, the 'ugly' Germans, and 'the French!' 鈥攂ut overall, he remains cooly unjudgmental regarding the main story, as if it followed a logic or an internal coherence as absurd as any other.
Considering this is from 1843, this shifty, slippery, sneaky narrator, comes across as surprisingly and disconcertingly modern.
It is not surprising that Dostoyevsky declared "We all came out from under Gogol's 'Overcoat'"
September 1, 2021
The Overcoat is a sad and sobering short story set in St. Petersburg, Russia. I read it with earnest hope for a good outcome, yet with a knowing tug that grew surer by the minute that it was a lost cause.
Akaky Akakievich Shoenik is a lowly copying clerk who takes pride in his poor paying job. He wears a shabby frock coat that has worn out so thin it lets the draft in. In Petersburg, the poor are at the mercy of the northern cold. 鈥楢nd when the cold pinched the brows and brings tears to the eyes of those in high positions, ninth-class clerks are completely defenseless.鈥� I felt Akaky鈥檚 desperate need for a new overcoat, his abject poverty, and effort to scrimp and save in order to have a new one made. That the young clerks mock and laugh at him and make his irredeemable overcoat the butt of their jokes made me feel tenderly toward him. Oh, wouldn鈥檛 it be grand if he could at last own a coat he can be proud of and one that can protect him not just from the physical cold but the social disrespect that is his lot in life?
And so I followed him on his quest for a new overcoat and more importantly, his unspoken quest for compassion among those who had the means to render him assistance. Gogol unsentimentally revealed the harshness of Russian society in which rank was all important and decried the cruelty of man toward man.
This is my first foray into the writing of Nikolai Gogol and I wish to read more by him. This story can be read here: The Overcoat
Akaky Akakievich Shoenik is a lowly copying clerk who takes pride in his poor paying job. He wears a shabby frock coat that has worn out so thin it lets the draft in. In Petersburg, the poor are at the mercy of the northern cold. 鈥楢nd when the cold pinched the brows and brings tears to the eyes of those in high positions, ninth-class clerks are completely defenseless.鈥� I felt Akaky鈥檚 desperate need for a new overcoat, his abject poverty, and effort to scrimp and save in order to have a new one made. That the young clerks mock and laugh at him and make his irredeemable overcoat the butt of their jokes made me feel tenderly toward him. Oh, wouldn鈥檛 it be grand if he could at last own a coat he can be proud of and one that can protect him not just from the physical cold but the social disrespect that is his lot in life?
And so I followed him on his quest for a new overcoat and more importantly, his unspoken quest for compassion among those who had the means to render him assistance. Gogol unsentimentally revealed the harshness of Russian society in which rank was all important and decried the cruelty of man toward man.
This is my first foray into the writing of Nikolai Gogol and I wish to read more by him. This story can be read here: The Overcoat
January 13, 2020
" 賵賴賰匕丕 夭丕賱 賵兀禺鬲賮賶 廿賱賶 丕賱兀亘丿 廿賳爻丕賳 賱賲 賷賮賰乇 兀丨丿 賲賳 丕賱禺賱賯 賮賷 丨賲丕賷鬲賴貙 賵賱賲 賷賰賳 毓夭賷夭丕賸 毓賱賶 兀丨丿貙 賵賱賲 賷賰賳 賷賴鬲賲 兀丨丿 亘兀賲乇賴 賱丕 賲賳 賯乇賷亘 賵賱丕 賲賳 亘毓賷丿 .. 廿賳爻丕賳 鬲丨賲賱 賴夭亍 賵爻禺乇賷丞 夭賲賱丕卅賴 賲賳 睾賷乇 兀賳 賷鬲匕賲乇貙 廿賳爻丕賳 匕賴亘 廿賱賶 賲乇賯丿賴 丕賱兀禺賷乇 亘賱丕 兀丿賳賶 囟噩丞 .. 馗賴乇 賮噩兀丞 夭丕卅乇 賲囟賷亍 毓賱賶 賴賷卅丞 賲毓胤賮貙 賱賷囟賷亍 丨賷丕鬲賴 丕賱亘丕卅爻丞 賱賲噩乇丿 賱丨馗丞 禺丕胤賮丞貙 賲禺賱賵賯 丨賱鬲 亘賴 賳賰亘丞 賯丕爻賷丞 賰賲丕 鬲丨賱 丕賱賳賰亘丕鬲 亘丕賱賲賱賵賰 賵毓馗賲丕亍 丕賱亘卮乇 毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱兀乇囟 .. "
July 8, 2017
鬲鬲乇丿丿 賲賯賵賱丞 兀賳 丕賱兀丿亘 丕賱乇賵爻賷 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱鬲丕爻毓 毓卮乇 禺乇噩 賲賳 鬲丨鬲 賲毓胤賮 噩賵噩賵賱. 賵賴賷 賲賯賵賱丞 氐丨賷丨丞 廿賱賶 丨丿賺 賰亘賷乇貙 賵賱賰賳 賲丕 丕賳丕 賲鬲兀賰丿 賲賳賴 賷賯賷賳丕賸 兀賳賳賷 兀丿賷賳 亘丕賱賮囟賱 賱賴匕賴 "丕賱賳賵賮賷賱丕" - 丕賱鬲賷 賯乇兀鬲賴丕 賮賷 亘丿丕賷丞 爻賳賷賳 丕賱賲乇丕賴賯丞 賵兀孬賳丕亍 丿乇丕爻鬲賷 丕賱噩丕賲毓賷丞 賵賮賷 卮亘丕亘賷 賵賱賱丌賳 丿賵賳 丕賳 鬲賮賯丿 賯丿乇鬲賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱鬲兀孬賷乇 賮賷 賵廿賲鬲丕毓賷 - 亘丨亘賷 賱賱兀丿亘 丕賱賯氐氐賷 賵丕賱乇賵丕卅賷 丕賱噩丕丿 毓丕賲丞賸 賵賱賱兀丿亘 丕賱乇賵爻賷 賮賷 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱鬲丕爻毓 毓卮乇 禺丕氐丞賸.
May 27, 2017
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄 4 Engaging Stars!
I first heard of this story while reading 's 2003 fantastic novel . Since then, I've been curious to read it and I finally had a chance to do it. (If you Google "The Namesake and The Overcoat", you'll find plenty of posts analyzing the connection between the two).
The Overcoat follows the life and death of Akaky Akakievich, a middle-aged man, that works as a government clerk in St. Petersburg. Akaky, whose annual salary of 400 rubles barely allows him to survive, is deeply passionate about his job. He's a recluse, neglects his appearance and never pays attention to what is happening around him. Because of his odd personality and isolated lifestyle, his coworkers constantly make fun of him, but Akaky rarely lets this affect his performance at work.
One day after he notices that his back is hurting, Akaky soon determines that the problem is that his overcoat is so worn out that is not protecting him from the icy winds that blow through the city. He decides to take the item to his tailor, Petrovitch, to see if he can mend it. After some back and forth between the two, Petrovitch tells Akaky that there's no way to patch the coat and that he'll have to buy a new one.
A stamp depicting "The Overcoat", from the souvenir sheet of Russia devoted to the 200th birth anniversary of Nikolai Gogol, 2009 (Via Wikipedia)
Initially, Akaky is taken aback when Petrovitch estimates that a new overcoat will cost around 150 rubles, more than a third of his annual salary. But eventually, he resigns himself to the idea and, paradoxically, discovers that the quest to put aside the money has actually brought a new sense of purpose to his otherwise dull existence. After receiving a higher than expected bonus, along with some money he's been saving, Akaky is finally ready to purchase his new piece of garment.
The day he receives the coat is the happiest of Akaky's life. Sadly, his elation is short-lived as a sudden turn of events ends with the loss of his coat, a devastating illness and ultimately, his own demise. Soon after he dies, Akaky returns as a ghost to haunt those that were cruel to him, in particular, a superintendent that refused to help him when the overcoat was reported lost.
For a story published in 1842, I found the language of The Overcoat surprisingly approachable. Gogol's not so veiled criticism of the Russian political establishment as well as his sardonic depiction of government bureaucrats was particularly delightful.
An engaging, well-written story that can be read in less than an hour. Recommended for those that enjoy classic literature and short stories.
November 10, 2024
"
丿毓賳賷 賵卮兀賳賷 貙 賱賲丕匕丕 鬲爻賷亍 廿賱賷賸賾責"
噩賲賱丞 賷賯賵賱賴丕 "兀賰丕賰賷" 賮賷 丕賱賱丨馗丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 賮賷賴丕 丕賱鬲丨賲賱貙 兀賵 賲夭賷丿賸丕 賲賳 丕賱兀賱賲
賮賴賷 賱賷爻鬲 賲噩乇丿 噩賲賱丞貙 兀賵 乇丿 賲賳 卮禺氐 賷爻丕亍 廿賱賷賴
亘賱 賴賷 氐賷丕睾丞賺 賲卮賵賾賴丞賺 賱廿丨爻丕爻賺 賱丕 賷購氐丕睾.. 丨賷賳 賷氐賱 丕賱兀賱賲 賲毓賴 廿賱賶 賲賳鬲賴丕賴貙 賮賷鬲賯賷兀 丨賷賳賴丕 丕賱賵噩毓 賮賷 氐賵乇丞 丨乇賵賮 賯丿 鬲亘丿賵 賮賷 氐賵乇丞 賴丕丿卅丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 丨賯賷賯鬲賴丕 丨賲賲 亘乇賰丕賳賷丞 鬲賮賵乇 丿丕禺賱 乇賵丨賴貙賮鬲賰賵賳 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱 廿賱賶 丕賱禺丕乇噩
賴賵 爻丐丕賱賸丕 賱丕 賷賮毓賱 兀賷 卮卅.. 睾賷乇 兀賳賴 賷賯乇亘賴 賲賳 卮乇賮丞 丕賱廿匕賱丕賱 廿賱丕 禺胤賵丕鬲貙 賵賷購賰賻賷賮 丕賱賵噩毓 毓賱賶 丨丿賵丿 噩爻丿賴 賵兀囟賱毓賴貙 賱賷丨賲賷 賲丕 鬲亘賯賶 賱賴 賲賳 乇賵丨 賵賳亘囟貙 賵賮賷 丕賱賲賯丕亘賱 賷購睾賷亘 丕賱賵賯鬲貙 賵賷賱睾賷 丕賱賲爻丕賮丕鬲貙 賮鬲鬲爻丕賵賶 噩賲賷毓 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 賮賷 毓賷賳賴 賰賳爻禺 賲賰乇乇丞貙 賰丕賱鬲賷 賷賯賵賲 亘賳爻禺賴丕 賰賱 賷賵賲
兀賰丕賰賷 亘賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱賲賴鬲乇卅 .. 賴賵 賰賱 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇賷賳 賮賷 夭賲賳 毓亘孬賷貙 賴賵 賰賱 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 丕賱賲鬲爻賰毓賷賳 賮乇丕丿賶 亘賱丕 賲兀賵賶 賮賷 賱賷丕賱賷 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞.
丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕賱匕賷 囟丕賯 亘噩爻丿賴 賮鬲賴賱賴賱貙 賵鬲賱丕卮賶 賲毓馗賲 賳爻賷噩賴 賰賲丕 鬲賱丕卮賶鬲 賰乇丕賲鬲賴 賵丌丿賲賷鬲賴
賵賲丕 鬲亘賯賶 賲賳賴 賱丕 賷賵丕乇賷 爻賵亍丞 賵賱丕 賷賲賳丨 廿賱丕 丿賮亍 賰丕匕亘. 賮馗賱 丕賱亘胤賱 賷賱鬲賲爻 賲賳賴 丕賱丿賮亍 丕賱賰丕匕亘貙 賰賲鬲爻賰毓 亘丕卅爻 賷賱鬲賲爻 丕賱丿賮亍 賲賳 爻丨丕卅亘 丕賱丿禺丕賳 賮賷 丕賱卮賵丕乇毓貙 賵丕賱賲賯丕賴賷
"丕賱賲毓胤賮 " 賰丕賳 丕禺鬲賷丕乇 毓亘賯乇賷 賲賳 "噩賵噩賵賱" 賰乇賲夭貙 賵丕爻賯丕胤貙 賵爻禺乇賷丞 賲賳 丕賱馗賱賲 賮賷 毓氐乇 乇賵爻賷丕 亘賱
賵賮賷 賰賱 丕賱毓氐賵乇
賱匕丕 丕爻鬲丨賯鬲 賯氐鬲賴 丕賱丿賴卮丞貙 賵丕賱廿賳亘賴丕乇貙 賵丕賱廿毓噩丕亘 賲賳 賰賱 賲賳 兀鬲賵丕 亘毓丿賴貙 賵丨鬲賶 賵賯鬲賳丕 賴匕丕
"賰賱賳丕 禺乇噩賳丕 賲賳 賲毓胤賮 噩賵噩賵賱" 賯丕賱賴丕 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 賮兀氐丕亘 丕賱賲毓賳賶 亘賱丕 卮賰貙賱鬲氐亘丨 兀賮囟賱 賯氐丞 乇賲夭賷丞 毓亘乇 賰賱 丕賱兀夭賲丕賳.
丿毓賳賷 賵卮兀賳賷 貙 賱賲丕匕丕 鬲爻賷亍 廿賱賷賸賾責"
噩賲賱丞 賷賯賵賱賴丕 "兀賰丕賰賷" 賮賷 丕賱賱丨馗丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 賮賷賴丕 丕賱鬲丨賲賱貙 兀賵 賲夭賷丿賸丕 賲賳 丕賱兀賱賲
賮賴賷 賱賷爻鬲 賲噩乇丿 噩賲賱丞貙 兀賵 乇丿 賲賳 卮禺氐 賷爻丕亍 廿賱賷賴
亘賱 賴賷 氐賷丕睾丞賺 賲卮賵賾賴丞賺 賱廿丨爻丕爻賺 賱丕 賷購氐丕睾.. 丨賷賳 賷氐賱 丕賱兀賱賲 賲毓賴 廿賱賶 賲賳鬲賴丕賴貙 賮賷鬲賯賷兀 丨賷賳賴丕 丕賱賵噩毓 賮賷 氐賵乇丞 丨乇賵賮 賯丿 鬲亘丿賵 賮賷 氐賵乇丞 賴丕丿卅丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賮賷 丨賯賷賯鬲賴丕 丨賲賲 亘乇賰丕賳賷丞 鬲賮賵乇 丿丕禺賱 乇賵丨賴貙賮鬲賰賵賳 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 賲賳 丕賱丿丕禺賱 廿賱賶 丕賱禺丕乇噩
賴賵 爻丐丕賱賸丕 賱丕 賷賮毓賱 兀賷 卮卅.. 睾賷乇 兀賳賴 賷賯乇亘賴 賲賳 卮乇賮丞 丕賱廿匕賱丕賱 廿賱丕 禺胤賵丕鬲貙 賵賷購賰賻賷賮 丕賱賵噩毓 毓賱賶 丨丿賵丿 噩爻丿賴 賵兀囟賱毓賴貙 賱賷丨賲賷 賲丕 鬲亘賯賶 賱賴 賲賳 乇賵丨 賵賳亘囟貙 賵賮賷 丕賱賲賯丕亘賱 賷購睾賷亘 丕賱賵賯鬲貙 賵賷賱睾賷 丕賱賲爻丕賮丕鬲貙 賮鬲鬲爻丕賵賶 噩賲賷毓 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 賮賷 毓賷賳賴 賰賳爻禺 賲賰乇乇丞貙 賰丕賱鬲賷 賷賯賵賲 亘賳爻禺賴丕 賰賱 賷賵賲
兀賰丕賰賷 亘賲毓胤賮賴 丕賱賲賴鬲乇卅 .. 賴賵 賰賱 丕賱賲賯賴賵乇賷賳 賮賷 夭賲賳 毓亘孬賷貙 賴賵 賰賱 丕賱賮賯乇丕亍 丕賱賲鬲爻賰毓賷賳 賮乇丕丿賶 亘賱丕 賲兀賵賶 賮賷 賱賷丕賱賷 丕賱卮鬲丕亍 丕賱賯丕爻賷丞.
丕賱賲毓胤賮 丕賱匕賷 囟丕賯 亘噩爻丿賴 賮鬲賴賱賴賱貙 賵鬲賱丕卮賶 賲毓馗賲 賳爻賷噩賴 賰賲丕 鬲賱丕卮賶鬲 賰乇丕賲鬲賴 賵丌丿賲賷鬲賴
賵賲丕 鬲亘賯賶 賲賳賴 賱丕 賷賵丕乇賷 爻賵亍丞 賵賱丕 賷賲賳丨 廿賱丕 丿賮亍 賰丕匕亘. 賮馗賱 丕賱亘胤賱 賷賱鬲賲爻 賲賳賴 丕賱丿賮亍 丕賱賰丕匕亘貙 賰賲鬲爻賰毓 亘丕卅爻 賷賱鬲賲爻 丕賱丿賮亍 賲賳 爻丨丕卅亘 丕賱丿禺丕賳 賮賷 丕賱卮賵丕乇毓貙 賵丕賱賲賯丕賴賷
"丕賱賲毓胤賮 " 賰丕賳 丕禺鬲賷丕乇 毓亘賯乇賷 賲賳 "噩賵噩賵賱" 賰乇賲夭貙 賵丕爻賯丕胤貙 賵爻禺乇賷丞 賲賳 丕賱馗賱賲 賮賷 毓氐乇 乇賵爻賷丕 亘賱
賵賮賷 賰賱 丕賱毓氐賵乇
賱匕丕 丕爻鬲丨賯鬲 賯氐鬲賴 丕賱丿賴卮丞貙 賵丕賱廿賳亘賴丕乇貙 賵丕賱廿毓噩丕亘 賲賳 賰賱 賲賳 兀鬲賵丕 亘毓丿賴貙 賵丨鬲賶 賵賯鬲賳丕 賴匕丕
"賰賱賳丕 禺乇噩賳丕 賲賳 賲毓胤賮 噩賵噩賵賱" 賯丕賱賴丕 丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 賮兀氐丕亘 丕賱賲毓賳賶 亘賱丕 卮賰貙賱鬲氐亘丨 兀賮囟賱 賯氐丞 乇賲夭賷丞 毓亘乇 賰賱 丕賱兀夭賲丕賳.
February 4, 2022
17th book of 2022
The Overcoatby Nikolai Gogol is the story of one man, Akaky Akakievich, and his earthly struggle of obtaining a decent overcoat. While comedic in undertone, The Overcoat is a once charmingly cleaver in its observations, and devastatingly true in its reflection on the human condition.
In his work Lectures on Russian Literature Vladimir Nabokov writes of the genius of Gogol. "Steady Pushkin, matter-of-fact Tolstoy, restrained Chekhov have all had their moments of irrational insight which simultaneously blurred the sentence and disclosed a secret meaning worth the sudden focal shift. But with Gogol this shifting is the very basis of his art, so that whenever he tried to write in the round hand of literary tradition and to treat rational ideas in a logical way, he lost all trace of talent. When, as in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced."
As this is a short story, I will not say too much on the topic of plot for fear of giving the whole piece away. I also do not want to rob you of the process of discovery. With any master, such as Gogol, the best way to read it, is to enter unaided, and briefed. That way, all characters, scenes, and literary devices have been untouched, and the reader can learn of each of these, without any preconceived prejudices or biases.
I highly enjoyed this fantastic short story, I have read it twice now. For anyone who wants a taste of the best of Russian literature, stop of with Gogol, and when you do, look no further than, The Overcoat Four stars.
The Overcoatby Nikolai Gogol is the story of one man, Akaky Akakievich, and his earthly struggle of obtaining a decent overcoat. While comedic in undertone, The Overcoat is a once charmingly cleaver in its observations, and devastatingly true in its reflection on the human condition.
In his work Lectures on Russian Literature Vladimir Nabokov writes of the genius of Gogol. "Steady Pushkin, matter-of-fact Tolstoy, restrained Chekhov have all had their moments of irrational insight which simultaneously blurred the sentence and disclosed a secret meaning worth the sudden focal shift. But with Gogol this shifting is the very basis of his art, so that whenever he tried to write in the round hand of literary tradition and to treat rational ideas in a logical way, he lost all trace of talent. When, as in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced."
As this is a short story, I will not say too much on the topic of plot for fear of giving the whole piece away. I also do not want to rob you of the process of discovery. With any master, such as Gogol, the best way to read it, is to enter unaided, and briefed. That way, all characters, scenes, and literary devices have been untouched, and the reader can learn of each of these, without any preconceived prejudices or biases.
I highly enjoyed this fantastic short story, I have read it twice now. For anyone who wants a taste of the best of Russian literature, stop of with Gogol, and when you do, look no further than, The Overcoat Four stars.
January 14, 2020
亘賴 賳丕賲 夭蹖爻鬲賳 賵 賱匕鬲
卮賳賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 毓丕丿鬲 丕爻鬲...亘賴 亘丿亘禺鬲蹖...丿乇噩丕 夭丿賳...丿賲 亘乇賳蹖丕賵乇丿賳!!! 毓丕丿鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 賴乇趩蹖夭賽 賳丕禺賵卮丕蹖賳丿...丨鬲蹖 亘賴 卮賳賱蹖 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 卮賳賱 賳蹖爻鬲...蹖讴 讴賴賳賴鈥屰� 倬丕乇賴 倬賵乇賴...蹖讴 乇爻丕賳丕蹖 賯賵蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕賳鬲賯丕賱 鬲賲丕賲 爻乇賲丕蹖 乇賵爻蹖賴 亘賴 丌賳 鬲賳賽 賴賲賴鈥屭嗃屫藏堌必�!!!
丌賳诏丕賴 卮賳賱蹖 鬲丕夭賴 賮乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫必池�...丕賲丕 丌賳賯丿乇 诏乇賲鬲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 賮讴乇鬲 丿蹖诏乇 丕夭 爻乇賲丕 蹖禺 賳賲蹖鈥屫ㄙ嗀�!!! 亘賴 倬丕卮賳賴鈥屰� 夭蹖亘丕蹖 賱禺鬲 丿禺鬲乇丕賳 禺蹖乇賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堐�...亘賴 孬乇賵鬲賽 丕卮乇丕賮... 鬲丕夭賴 賲蹖鈥屬佡囐呟� 夭賳丿诏蹖 賮賯胤 亘乇丕蹖 鬲賵 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲...賳賴 亘乇丕蹖 丕夭 賲丕 亘賴鬲乇丕賳!!! 賵 趩蹖夭蹖 賴爻鬲 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 賱匕鬲!責
蹖賴 賱丨馗賴!...鬲賵 乇賵 禺丿丕 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 丕丨賲賯 賳亘丕卮!!!...(亘亘禺卮蹖丿 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賵爻讴蹖 丿乇賵賳賲 賴爻鬲賲)...鬲賯氐蹖乇 乇丕 賳賳丿丕夭 诏乇丿賳 卮賳賱 鬲丕夭賴!!! 乇诏賴鈥屬囏й� 毓乇賮丕賳 亘蹖賲丕乇 讴乇丿賴 賲睾夭鬲 乇丕!!! 亘蹖鈥屫屫з�!!! 賳賲蹖乇 賯亘賱 丕夭 丌賳讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘賲蹖乇蹖!!! 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 丌丿賲 賳賲乇丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵 賮賴賲蹖丿賴鈥屫з嗀�...丨鬲賲丕 讴賴 賳亘丕蹖丿 亘賲蹖乇蹖貙 鬲丕 亘賮賴賲蹖 卮賳賱鈥屬囏� 乇丕 毓賲丿丕 丕夭 鬲賵 丿夭丿蹖丿賴鈥屫з嗀�...鬲丕 賴賲趩賳丕賳 賳丕丿丕賳爻鬲賴 丿乇 賮讴乇 賲賳噩賲丿鬲 亘賴 亘乇丿诏蹖 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 讴賳蹖...賳丿丕卮鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 乇丕 賳亘蹖賳蹖...賵 賯賳丕毓鬲 倬蹖卮賴 讴賳蹖 賵 賴賲趩賳丕賳 賯賳丕毓鬲...亘丿賵賳 丌賳讴賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賯賳丕毓鬲 乇丕 亘賮賴賲蹖!!!
卮賲丕 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з嗁�...丕賲丕 賲賳 丿賱賲 卮賳賱 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏�...賴賲蹖賳 卮賳賱 讴賴 賲毓噩夭賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�!!! 亘蹖賳丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫囏�!!! 丨鬲蹖 亘賴 賲賳噩賲丿鬲乇蹖賳 匕賴賳 乇賵爻蹖...丌乇賴 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賵爻讴蹖 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屭堐屬�...讴賴 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�: 賲丕 賴賲賴 丕夭 卮賳賱 诏賵诏賵賱 丿乇丌賲丿賴鈥屫й屬�
卮賳賱 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 毓丕丿鬲 丕爻鬲...亘賴 亘丿亘禺鬲蹖...丿乇噩丕 夭丿賳...丿賲 亘乇賳蹖丕賵乇丿賳!!! 毓丕丿鬲 诏乇賮鬲賳 亘賴 賴乇趩蹖夭賽 賳丕禺賵卮丕蹖賳丿...丨鬲蹖 亘賴 卮賳賱蹖 讴賴 丿蹖诏乇 卮賳賱 賳蹖爻鬲...蹖讴 讴賴賳賴鈥屰� 倬丕乇賴 倬賵乇賴...蹖讴 乇爻丕賳丕蹖 賯賵蹖 亘乇丕蹖 丕賳鬲賯丕賱 鬲賲丕賲 爻乇賲丕蹖 乇賵爻蹖賴 亘賴 丌賳 鬲賳賽 賴賲賴鈥屭嗃屫藏堌必�!!!
丌賳诏丕賴 卮賳賱蹖 鬲丕夭賴 賮乇丕 賲蹖鈥屫必池�...丕賲丕 丌賳賯丿乇 诏乇賲鬲 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀� 讴賴 賮讴乇鬲 丿蹖诏乇 丕夭 爻乇賲丕 蹖禺 賳賲蹖鈥屫ㄙ嗀�!!! 亘賴 倬丕卮賳賴鈥屰� 夭蹖亘丕蹖 賱禺鬲 丿禺鬲乇丕賳 禺蹖乇賴 賲蹖鈥屫促堐�...亘賴 孬乇賵鬲賽 丕卮乇丕賮... 鬲丕夭賴 賲蹖鈥屬佡囐呟� 夭賳丿诏蹖 賮賯胤 亘乇丕蹖 鬲賵 爻禺鬲 丕爻鬲...賳賴 亘乇丕蹖 丕夭 賲丕 亘賴鬲乇丕賳!!! 賵 趩蹖夭蹖 賴爻鬲 丿乇 夭賳丿诏蹖 亘賴 賳丕賲 賱匕鬲!責
蹖賴 賱丨馗賴!...鬲賵 乇賵 禺丿丕 丕蹖賳賯丿乇 丕丨賲賯 賳亘丕卮!!!...(亘亘禺卮蹖丿 亘丕 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賵爻讴蹖 丿乇賵賳賲 賴爻鬲賲)...鬲賯氐蹖乇 乇丕 賳賳丿丕夭 诏乇丿賳 卮賳賱 鬲丕夭賴!!! 乇诏賴鈥屬囏й� 毓乇賮丕賳 亘蹖賲丕乇 讴乇丿賴 賲睾夭鬲 乇丕!!! 亘蹖鈥屫屫з�!!! 賳賲蹖乇 賯亘賱 丕夭 丌賳讴賴 亘丕蹖丿 亘賲蹖乇蹖!!! 丕蹖賳 賴賲賴 丌丿賲 賳賲乇丿賴鈥屫з嗀� 賵 賮賴賲蹖丿賴鈥屫з嗀�...丨鬲賲丕 讴賴 賳亘丕蹖丿 亘賲蹖乇蹖貙 鬲丕 亘賮賴賲蹖 卮賳賱鈥屬囏� 乇丕 毓賲丿丕 丕夭 鬲賵 丿夭丿蹖丿賴鈥屫з嗀�...鬲丕 賴賲趩賳丕賳 賳丕丿丕賳爻鬲賴 丿乇 賮讴乇 賲賳噩賲丿鬲 亘賴 亘乇丿诏蹖 丕賮鬲禺丕乇 讴賳蹖...賳丿丕卮鬲賴鈥屬囏й屫� 乇丕 賳亘蹖賳蹖...賵 賯賳丕毓鬲 倬蹖卮賴 讴賳蹖 賵 賴賲趩賳丕賳 賯賳丕毓鬲...亘丿賵賳 丌賳讴賴 賲毓賳丕蹖 賯賳丕毓鬲 乇丕 亘賮賴賲蹖!!!
卮賲丕 乇丕 賳賲蹖鈥屫з嗁�...丕賲丕 賲賳 丿賱賲 卮賳賱 賲蹖鈥屫堌з囏�...賴賲蹖賳 卮賳賱 讴賴 賲毓噩夭賴 賲蹖鈥屭┵嗀�!!! 亘蹖賳丕蹖蹖 賲蹖鈥屫囏�!!! 丨鬲蹖 亘賴 賲賳噩賲丿鬲乇蹖賳 匕賴賳 乇賵爻蹖...丌乇賴 丿丕爻鬲丕蹖賵爻讴蹖 乇丕 賲蹖鈥屭堐屬�...讴賴 賲蹖鈥屭堐屫�: 賲丕 賴賲賴 丕夭 卮賳賱 诏賵诏賵賱 丿乇丌賲丿賴鈥屫й屬�
January 10, 2023
In the short story "The Overcoat" Nikolai Gogol narrates the rise and fall of an insignificant person, Akakij Akakijewitsch. Working as a copyist, mobbed by his superiors and colleagues, he is a creature of habit, wearing the same coat and implementing the same tasks and duties on a daily basis. Never does he want anything more, in fact, any change out of his routine causes bewilderment.
A turnaround appears in Akakij Akakijewitsch麓s life when his coat is worn out and, therefore, needs a new coat based on his tailor麓s pressing advice. The anticipation of a new coat, the meticulous planning to purchase the same depict an emotional roller-coaster to Akakijewitsch.
Eventually, when he carries himself around in his new coat, his life seems to become more interesting. He is admired by his very same superiors and colleagues and he is socializing by attending an event. So far so good you would think...However, to every rise, there is a fall and Akakij Akakijewitsch draws the consequences of obtaining a new coat, giving into the admiration of his circle, having the coat stolen and his pathetic attempts to initiate legal steps with Russian officials against the thieves.
A tragicomic story that fascinated me with its accurate character description, insights into hierarchies in official departments of Russia and its completely unforeseen ending.
Gogol engages the reader to such an extent that it will make you sympathize with the protagonist and chuckle at some incidents, but most importantly, Gogol keeps you wondering what will happen next and keeps you wanting more of his impeccable writing style.
With every world melting on your palate, you will recognize that many authors of past and present times are inspired by Gogol and his story "The Overcoat". Though the scenery is set in Russia, the parallels in characters and events are a global matter.
Easy 5 stars! So happy to have read this short story.
Thanks to my virtual book-club on goodreads!
#GroupReading
#GroupDiscussion
IG: nilguen_reads
A turnaround appears in Akakij Akakijewitsch麓s life when his coat is worn out and, therefore, needs a new coat based on his tailor麓s pressing advice. The anticipation of a new coat, the meticulous planning to purchase the same depict an emotional roller-coaster to Akakijewitsch.
Eventually, when he carries himself around in his new coat, his life seems to become more interesting. He is admired by his very same superiors and colleagues and he is socializing by attending an event. So far so good you would think...However, to every rise, there is a fall and Akakij Akakijewitsch draws the consequences of obtaining a new coat, giving into the admiration of his circle, having the coat stolen and his pathetic attempts to initiate legal steps with Russian officials against the thieves.
A tragicomic story that fascinated me with its accurate character description, insights into hierarchies in official departments of Russia and its completely unforeseen ending.
Gogol engages the reader to such an extent that it will make you sympathize with the protagonist and chuckle at some incidents, but most importantly, Gogol keeps you wondering what will happen next and keeps you wanting more of his impeccable writing style.
With every world melting on your palate, you will recognize that many authors of past and present times are inspired by Gogol and his story "The Overcoat". Though the scenery is set in Russia, the parallels in characters and events are a global matter.
Easy 5 stars! So happy to have read this short story.
Thanks to my virtual book-club on goodreads!
#GroupReading
#GroupDiscussion
IG: nilguen_reads
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