Books of the Week

Today's books of the week are both by the Russian author Nikolai Gogol.  

Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
Recommended by Theo Brovin

Dead Souls follows the journey of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. Having recently arrived in town, Chichikov quickly makes a name for himself among the inhabitants of Town N as a likeable, knowledgeable man. Soon enough, Chichikov embeds himself within the upper ranks, revealing his aptitude for persuasion, and gets to know some of the wealthier inhabitants. Once a little time has passed, our hero begins to receive letters of invitation from his new acquaintances, asking him to experience their hospitality.

In Dead Souls, Gogol provides an accurate window into the world that is nineteenth century Russia, showing the customs, hierarchies and structure upon which the Empire based itself. It also displays the beliefs of the people living then. This is particularly visible as Gogol accentuates and exaggerates the characteristics of the people Chichikov meets along his journey, showing the flaws in both the Russian people and their culture, in an overall satire of society.

However, the story displays another darker aspect. Whilst portraying the image of Russian culture in a burlesque way, the book tacitly approves the concept of serfdom by framing the serfs as not only a natural part of the landscape but also a belonging, void of morality, rather than a living, thinking being. The book reveals the corruption and inefficiencies of the Imperial Russian system, showing the loopholes that the main character so easily exploits to his advantage.

Dead Souls is an exciting insight into 19th century Russia and a caricature of the remiss and venal society it is portrayed as, whilst also displaying the downtrodden reality of serfdom. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in literature, as Dead Souls is a well known masterpiece by one of the most famous Russian writers, and to people absorbed by history since it provides a firm perspective on the state of the Russian Empire in the nineteenth century. It must be noted that this book can contain difficult vocabulary and has been translated from Russian, which is why it might be more challenging for a younger reader.

Petersburg Tales by Nikolai Gogol
Recommended by Arun Burman

Composed and translated by the British publishing house Alma Classics, Petersburg Tales is an amalgamation of Russian satirical allegories, written by Nikolai Gogol. Classical Russian short stories such as 'The Nose' and 'The Overcoat' serve as a great introduction to sophisticated Eastern literature. Written in the 1830s and early 1840s, these stories paint a vital yet hilarious picture of a city swarmed with corruption and self-importance. 

In 'The Nose', for example, a collegiate assessor finds that his nose has detached itself from his face and climbed the ranks to become a state councillor. What seems like a children’s nursery story is in fact an intellectual and satirical masterpiece, poking fun at nineteenth century Russian society. 

Monument to 'The Nose' in St Petersburg

After reading these allegories, I delved into learning about the intriguing culture and lifestyle of 1800’s Russians, and the westernisation of the country. During this period, the arts flourished, particularly Russian ballet. Gogol’s stories, whilst short, provide a meticulous snapshot of this historical period, and exaggerate the cultural richness and western influence on Russia. Thus, the tales taught me much about Russian history. 

Nikolai Gogol

In addition, Petersburg Tales opens a new door into Russian literature, and I am now reading Dead Souls, also by Gogol, and have become aware of writers such as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. From descriptions of Lady Kazan cathedral to amusing dialogue between pompous workmen, Gogol encapsulates Russian society with precision.  Petersburg Tales serves as a light-hearted but scholarly read, and more importantly, opens a window to a wide range of literature.

Many thanks to Theo and Arun for submitting their reviews to the book blog, and to Mr Maxted for co-ordinating this.