The Overcoat
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From the Father of the Golden Age of Russian Literature, Nicolai Gogol’s The Overcoat is one of the greatest short stories of all time. This satire on Russia’s 19th century bureaucracy is amusing, pointed and has influenced many renowned Russian writers.
Civil servant, Akakiy Akakievitch, is underpaid and underappreciated. The harsh winter months are fast approaching and Akakievitch knows all too well that his overcoat won’t survive another repair. He scrimps and saves to the best of his ability until he finally has the funds to purchase a new coat. With the arrival of the garment, we see Akakievitch emerging from his shell. He is gradually more outgoing and is given a new lease of life. But in the cruel world of 19th century Russia, this newfound happiness cannot last long.
When Akakievitch is assaulted on his way home, the two thugs steal his new overcoat. His coworkers, the police and even a government official refuse to assist Akakievitch. As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, Akakievitch falls deathly ill...
Originally published in 1842, The Overcoat is a short story with great impact. Its themes of social commentary, the human condition and a touch of the supernatural are combined with Gogol’s biting wit and innovative writing.
Complete with a specially commissioned author biography, Read & Co. Books is proud to have republished this new edition of The Overcoat. A must-have addition to the bookshelves of classic Russian literature lovers, this short story is not one to be missed.
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Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852) was a Russian short story writer, playwright and novelist born in the Ukrainian Cossack town of Sorochyntsi. Often referred to as the Father of the Golden Age of Russian Literature, Gogol was the author of the first great Russian novel, Dead Souls, 1842. He was one of the first writers to use the grotesque in his work, and the famous trope can be seen in his well-known short story, The Overcoat, 1842.
