Dead Souls (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

I’d been meaning to read Dead Souls for decades and I’m glad to get around to it.I have a feeling there are better translations out there than this one.At times it’s a little clunky. That said this is probably one of those essential novels if you’re interested in Russian culture and history.There is some question as to whether the novel was finished. I don’t think it was or Gogol gave up on it. There are two parts to the book. Part One is thoroughly polished and clearly flows from a to b to c . You always know more or less what’s going on. Part One is also fairly funny. It’s not uproarious but it’s humorous.Part Two is a very different story . It seems to have gaps in it and at times is disorienting.You expect it to take off from where Part One left off or maybe a little later.Instead it begins with a lengthy description of land. Eventually the author gets around to telling you this is the land of someone the protagonist Chichikov is going to try to work the con game he pursues in Part One on. From there Chichikov uses his new connection to pursue his game of dead soul purchasing with others. So you the reader assume you’re going to get more of what you encountered in Part One. Well you get some of that but things change here. The plot has an episodic disconnected feel to it and the tone is much more serious.Gogol presents his vision of an ideal agrarian Russia and makes it clear that religious ideals are key to any good life. He mocks disembodied intellectualism and the aping of Western manners and ideas.Its in Part Two that you can see Gogol as a forerunner to Doestoevski.The novel famously end with an incomplete sentence.Gogol had an eye for the absurd. His portraits of the Russian rural land owning class are undoubtedly exaggerated but still have a feeling of truth and insight to them . He engages in the kind of exaggeration that sometimes makes you see more clearly. I feel compelled to point out that anyone interested in food and drink is apt to be captivated by some of his descriptions of meals.Its clear he had a thing for sturgeon!So why not 4 stars or more? A) the translation B) the disjointed nature of Part Two , which is at times fascinating but there’s a little too much landscape and speeches .

IMO, Dead Souls is complete as it is. There are a lot of literay theorists who believe that the way the novel is "cut off" is actually intentional. I wasn't so sure when I started reading it, but after reading this book and several of Gogol's other works it is my opinion that it was in fact intentional that it cuts off literay in mid sentence. Gogol was a very intelligent author who liked to have fun with his writing--you can tell from the whole tone of his writing that he is not the type of author who necessarily adheres to what is expected of him.that having been said, if you are still skeptical--even as an "incomplete" work this is a great book. the plot is pretty self contained and doesnt require any more than is already given.ALSO dover thrift is the bomb. I absolutely love this publisher. Such cheap prices for such great classic novels. Can't be beat.

Since this was the only English translation of Dead Souls I read, I cannot compare it with other translations. However, I found the English fitting the era and spirit of the book. It is a masterly work, which in the form of a fiction gives a captivating, scathing and accurate picture of Russia in mid nineteenth century, with all the backwardness, social injustice, corruption and at the same time fertile ground for various crooks and manipulators. I found it regrettable that we do not have the two subsequent parts planned by the author.

I enjoyed this book even though it is unfinished. It is considered by some to be a 'Classic' and it is easy to see why. The writing is superb and the humor is subtle. The plot is what really drives this story though. Very clever. The main character reminds me of a stereotypical used-car salesman - always plotting until the joke finally turns on him. I recommend it.

Gogol never disappoints. I'm writing this review only halfway through the novel, but this is one of the funniest and most poignant books I've ever read. Gogol repeatedly breaks the fourth wall and consistently pokes fun at Russian literature throughout the book. Well worth a read for any fan of "The Overcoat" or Russian literature.

did nt care for the plot and how it was written...this author was to be a mentor to later russian authors, but i found it difficult to read

In my opinion one of the great works of Russian literature. More than met my expectations. I picked this up after reading that Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and goncharov were all vying to be the 'next Gogol'. Truly a wonderful book with wit and sarcasm reminiscent of bulgakov

Good book, written very well

Truly speaking, I'm an ardent fan of Nikolai Gogol. It's another artistic milestone of Russian treasury. Though incomplete, it's smooth sailing story with flawless composition. Set in early century Russia, a man named Chichikov is fostering an ambition to be rich illusioned with a peculiar mission. The reader will have a good idea about Russian dream, culture and provincial lifestyle of that period.

Item arrived on time, as described. It's not perfect but it gets the job done at a minimum of expense. This book is a long haul of a read, but it is worth it.

this is a Christmas gift so I`m sure my spouse will be happy to see this under the tree. It was on his book list to buy.