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The Mantle, and Other Stories by Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol

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Author Gogol, Nikolai Vasilevich, 1809-1852
Contributor Mérimée, Prosper, 1803-1870
Translator Field, Claud, 1863-1941
Title The Mantle, and Other Stories
Note Reading ease score: 79.9 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Contents The mantle -- The nose -- Memoirs of a madman -- A May night -- The Viy.
Credits Produced by Meredith Bach, Jana Srna and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Summary "The Mantle and Other Stories" by Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol is a collection of short stories written in the early 19th century. The stories often revolve around the absurdities of life in Russian society, employing satire and humor to critique characters and their follies. One of the central characters is Akaki Akakievitch, a titular councillor whose life takes a turn following the loss of his beloved cloak, which becomes a symbol of his social position and identity. The opening of "The Mantle" introduces Akaki Akakievitch, a meek and unnoticed government clerk in St. Petersburg, who is humorously depicted as utterly devoted to his mundane work of copying documents. Gogol paints a vivid picture of Akaki's drab life, marked by ill-fitting clothes and constant ridicule from his colleagues. As Akaki discovers the dilapidated state of his old coat and resolves to get a new one, the narrative sets the stage for his transformation, exploring themes of social alienation and the human condition in a satirical light. The segment hints at the interplay of societal expectations and personal aspirations, foreshadowing the struggles Akaki will endure in pursuit of dignity through something as simple yet profound as a cloak. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature
Subject Russia -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
Subject Short stories, Russian -- Translations into English
Subject Gogol, Nikolai Vasilevich, 1809-1852 -- Translations into English
Category Text
EBook-No. 36238
Release Date May 27, 2011
Most Recently Updated Jan 7, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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