The Nose

By Nikolai Gogol

This early work by Nikolai Gogol was originally published in 1835 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'The Nose' is a short story about a St. Petersburg official whose nose leaves his face and develops a life of its own. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was born in Sorochintsi, Ukraine in 1809. In 1831, Gogol brought out the first volume of his Ukrainian stories, 'Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka'. It met with immediate success, and he followed it a year later with a second volume. 'The Nose' is regarded as a masterwork of comic short fiction, and 'The Overcoat' is now seen as one of the greatest short stories ever written; some years later, Dostoyevsky famously stated "We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'." He is seen by many contemporary critics as one of the greatest short story writers who has ever lived, and the Father of Russia's Golden Age of Realism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Dec 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781473397125

Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (1809–1852) was one of nineteenth-century Russia’s greatest writers and a profound influence on Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mikhail Bulgakov, Vladimir Nabokov, and countless other authors. His best-known works include the novel Dead Souls (1842) and the stories “The Overcoat,” “The Nose,” and “Memoirs of a Madman.” In 1852, he burned most of his manuscripts, including the second part of Dead Souls. He died nine days later.  

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The Nose

by

Nikolai GogoL

Copyright © 2013 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was born in Sorochintsi, Ukraine in 1809. He attended the Poltava boarding school, and then the Nehzin high school, where he wrote for the school’s literary journal and acted in theatrical productions. In 1828, after leaving school, Gogol moved to St. Petersburg with the ambition of becoming a professional author. At his own expense, he published a long Romantic poem. It was universally derided, and Gogol bought and destroyed all the copies, swearing never to write poetry again.

In 1831, Gogol brought out the first volume of his Ukrainian stories, Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka. It met with immediate success, and he followed it a year later with a second volume. Around this time, Gogol met the great Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin, with whom he developed a close friendship. Over the next decade or so, he worked with great industry, producing a great amount of short stories. Of these, ‘The Nose’ is regarded as a masterwork of comic short fiction, and ‘The Overcoat’ is now seen as one of the greatest short stories ever written; some years later, Dostoyevsky famously stated We all come out from Gogol’s ‘Overcoat’. He also published Dead Souls (1842), a satirisation of serfdom, seen by many critics as the first ‘modern’ Russian novel and his greatest longer work.

Gogol spent time living abroad in later life, settling in Rome and developing a passion for opera. As he got older, criticism of his work began to drain him, and he turned to religion, making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1848. Upon his return to Russia, under the encouragement of the fanatical priest, Father Konstantinovskii, Gogol subjected himself to a fatal course of fasting. He died in Moscow in 1852, aged 42. He is seen by many contemporary critics as one of the greatest short story writers who has ever lived, and the Father of Russia’s Golden Age of Realism.

I

On the 25th March, 18—, a very strange occurrence took place in St Petersburg. On the Ascension Avenue there lived a barber of the name of Ivan Jakovlevitch. He had lost his family name, and on his sign-board, on which was depicted the head of a gentleman with one cheek soaped, the only inscription to be read was, Blood-letting done here.

On this particular morning he awoke pretty early. Becoming aware of the smell of fresh-baked bread, he sat up a little in bed, and

Reviews for The Nose

[tess_schoolmarm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A short story of 45 pages. It is absurd and it is supposed to be. It's a commentary on how people say and do very silly things. Meh

[tess_w · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A short story of 45 pages. It is absurd and it is supposed to be. It's a commentary on how people say and do very silly things. Meh

[CristhianMMio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What can I say, a work that seems light and somewhat ridiculous invites us to delve into human nature and our society, starting from something as absurd as the search for a nose. (Translated from Spanish)

[El lector utópico · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I feel somewhat disappointed after reading it. I had always expected something more from this famous story by Gogol. (Translated from Spanish)

[Lilith16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fantastic, fun story with a satire that can be read at any age, captivated me from the first line. I recommend it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Fermín de Pas · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The truth is that it is a small surreal story, which may have its charm, but not much. Since it is short, it can be read. (Translated from Spanish)

[March Delgado · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A short novel, less than 40 pages, that made me think about the things we have and don't value. It can be read quickly, but it lingers in your mind for much longer, I recommend it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Juliercoli · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exquisite tales by Gogol. (Translated from Spanish)

[fpdc_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A delightful short story about a man that wakes and finds out his nose has gone and it is walking in town disguised as a State Counselor!...