Book Club – The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol
The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol. 192 pages.
Hailed by Nabokov as “the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced,” Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) left his mark as a playwright, novelist, and writer of short stories. Gogol’s works remain popular with both writers and readers, who prize his originality, imaginative gifts, and sheer exuberance.
This collection offers an excellent introduction to the author’s works. Opening a door to his bizarre world of broad comedy, fantasy, and social commentary, the title story portrays a petty official’s mental disintegration as he struggles for the attention of the woman he loves. Set during the repressive rule of Nicholas I, it satirizes the bureaucratic excesses of the era. Additional tales include “The Nevski Prospect,” a portrayal of the feverish pace of St. Petersburg street life, and “The Portrait,” a gripping depiction of a soul’s perdition.
Includes “The Nose”, “The Overcoat”, among others.
TIME: 6:30 pm (optional dinner to follow in Woodrow Wilson Dining Room. (note: jackets required for men))
CHAIR: Bob Green; CO-CHAIR: Jill Hurwitz
PLEASE RSVP your attendance to Jill Hurwitz at the following e-mail address: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE RE: translations
From Mary Anne Berkery, who will be leading the discussion on Thursday:
“There is a new translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky that got good reviews in the New York Review of Books. It is titled “The Selected Tales of Nikolai Gogol”. ”
Different translations have different stories included so please read The Diary story and whichever of the others are included in your version.
Jill also notes that the version on Audible.com by John Cournos is in gutenberg.org under Taras Bulba and other stories. It is jaunty and lighthearted and complete.
However, Jill downloaded a version onto Kindle by Claud Field and is terrible! It is edited and censored and leaves out whole parts.
There are other kindle and paperback versions but probably ANY of the other translators will do. Only Claud Field is not faithful to the Gogol story.