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El capote
CRÍTICA
Una estupenda edición ilustrada por Noemí Villamuza de ‘El capote’, acerca al escritor ruso a los lectores de todas las edades, en el bicentenario de su nacimiento, con uno de los mejores cuentos de todos los tiempos.
Público
El capote, un relato sumamente amargo y trágico. Este texto parece evidenciar una crítica feroz muy concreta: a la indiferencia del sistema burocrático imperial ruso ante las desdichas y las humillaciones de la población.
La Pérgola
He aquí otro de los ejemplos que confirman por qué Nórdica ha recibido el Premio a la Mejor Labor Editorial de 2008.
Nordesia
«Todavía creo que existen grietas en la realización artística de la historia —si consideramos forma y contenido separadamente—; una grieta que no existe en El capote de Gógol y La metamorfosis de Kafka.»
Vladimir Nabokov
CITA
«No hay gente más susceptible que los funcionarios, oficiales, oficinistas y, en general, todos los servidores públicos»
SINOPSIS
El capote, escrito por Nikolái Gógol entre los años 1839 y 1841, y publicado en 1842, nos presenta a uno de los más conmovedores personajes de la Literatura: Akaki Akákievich Bashmachkin, un funcionario de la escala más baja de la administración civil, que se ve ultrajado por las injusticias sociales y la indiferencia egoísta de los fuertes y ricos, y cuyo destino es el de ser un «hombre insignificante».
Akaki, para protegerse del gélido invierno de San Petersburgo, necesita un capote nuevo, pero cuando por fin lo consigue seguirá notando frío, el frío gélido que habita en los corazones de las personas que le rodean.
Este maravilloso relato y su protagonista tendrán gran influencia en la literatura posterior: Herman Melville y Franz Kafka nos presentarán a Bartleby y a Gregor Samsa, dos personajes descendientes directos de Akaki.
Las ilustraciones, que harán que este libro sea inolvidable para lectores de todas las edades, son de Noemí Villamuza, quien ya ilustró en esta misma colección El festín de Babette.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1842
About the author
Nikolai Gogol
2,180 books5,849 followersPeople consider that Russian writer Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (Николай Васильевич Гоголь) founded realism in Russian literature. His works include
The Overcoat
(1842) and
Dead Souls
(1842).
Ukrainian birth, heritage, and upbringing of Gogol influenced many of his written works among the most beloved in the tradition of Russian-language literature. Most critics see Gogol as the first Russian realist. His biting satire, comic realism, and descriptions of Russian provincials and petty bureaucrats influenced later Russian masters Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, and especially Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Gogol wittily said many later Russian maxims.
Gogol first used the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works The Nose , Viy , The Overcoat , and Nevsky Prospekt . Ukrainian upbringing, culture, and folklore influenced his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka .
His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian empire in Dead Souls .
Ukrainian birth, heritage, and upbringing of Gogol influenced many of his written works among the most beloved in the tradition of Russian-language literature. Most critics see Gogol as the first Russian realist. His biting satire, comic realism, and descriptions of Russian provincials and petty bureaucrats influenced later Russian masters Leo Tolstoy, Ivan Turgenev, and especially Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Gogol wittily said many later Russian maxims.
Gogol first used the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works The Nose , Viy , The Overcoat , and Nevsky Prospekt . Ukrainian upbringing, culture, and folklore influenced his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka .
His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian empire in Dead Souls .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,286 reviews
July 31, 2025
البقاء للاقوى؛أو للاوقح..او للاسوأ..لم يعد هناك اي فارق في هذا الكوكب البغيض..هذا هو الإحساس المر الذي سيتبقى في حلقك بعد 23صفحة هي مجمل هذه
القصة الإنسانية القاسية عن القهر و لا شيء سواه
و نحن هنا مع جوجول..سيد الأدب الوظيفي عبر العصور.. و الذي يوضح لنا بايجاز ..الى اي مدى تختفي الفظاظة الوحشية في التهذيب الراقي!!و يحكم على بطله منذ بداية دخوله"كما لو كان ذبابة طارت عبر قاعة الاستقبال"ا🐜
جعله مثالا للضعة..و ليس التواضع
للتضاؤل..و ليس التفاني
موظف في الخمسين من عمره..لديه اختيار اما ان يجوع او يتدفا
هو من الطراز خفيض الصوت
..جم الادب..الذي لو فكر في المطالبة بحقه؛اذن فهي النهاية لا محالة
يقع فريسة لتعالى و سخرية كل من حوله
و لكن اهم ما في القصة :العاب الضمير البغيضة التي قد ننقاد خلفها و نستسلم لها كثيرا
الغريب في تلك الاقصوصة انك سترى نفسك " الموظف المقهور "االذي لا تكتمل فرحته ابدا
و ايضا ستجد نفسك في المديرين و زملاؤه المتحرشين ..و الترزي السكير .. و لو كنت ممن يستخدمون جملة "الا تعرف مع من تتحدث "ستفكر مرارا قبل نطقها
جعلتني القصة اخجل انني امتلك معطفين لا ارتديهما ابدا..لحرارة بلادنا الدائمة 🔥
المنحى الفانتازي الأخير يؤكد ات واقعنا لا يحتمل عودة الحقوق لأصحابها..
و هنا تاتي العبقرية الكامنة في رمزية المعطف..فمنبع سعادتنا هو دائما اصل شقاؤنا
القصة الإنسانية القاسية عن القهر و لا شيء سواه
و نحن هنا مع جوجول..سيد الأدب الوظيفي عبر العصور.. و الذي يوضح لنا بايجاز ..الى اي مدى تختفي الفظاظة الوحشية في التهذيب الراقي!!و يحكم على بطله منذ بداية دخوله"كما لو كان ذبابة طارت عبر قاعة الاستقبال"ا🐜
جعله مثالا للضعة..و ليس التواضع
للتضاؤل..و ليس التفاني
موظف في الخمسين من عمره..لديه اختيار اما ان يجوع او يتدفا
هو من الطراز خفيض الصوت
..جم الادب..الذي لو فكر في المطالبة بحقه؛اذن فهي النهاية لا محالة
يقع فريسة لتعالى و سخرية كل من حوله
و لكن اهم ما في القصة :العاب الضمير البغيضة التي قد ننقاد خلفها و نستسلم لها كثيرا
الغريب في تلك الاقصوصة انك سترى نفسك " الموظف المقهور "االذي لا تكتمل فرحته ابدا
و ايضا ستجد نفسك في المديرين و زملاؤه المتحرشين ..و الترزي السكير .. و لو كنت ممن يستخدمون جملة "الا تعرف مع من تتحدث "ستفكر مرارا قبل نطقها
جعلتني القصة اخجل انني امتلك معطفين لا ارتديهما ابدا..لحرارة بلادنا الدائمة 🔥
المنحى الفانتازي الأخير يؤكد ات واقعنا لا يحتمل عودة الحقوق لأصحابها..
و هنا تاتي العبقرية الكامنة في رمزية المعطف..فمنبع سعادتنا هو دائما اصل شقاؤنا
February 29, 2020
It is a simple tale, on the surface. Akaky Akakievich (literally "Harmless Son-of-Harmless," but which might sound like "Poopy Pooperson” to a child), an impoverished civil servant and scrivener, must maintain his respectability by possessing a decent overcoat. How he gains a new overcoat, loses that overcoat, and seeks to have the overcoat restored to him constitutes the whole of our story.
Dostoevsky has been quoted as saying, “We all come from under Gogol's Overcoat", and it is true that much of Russian literature can be glimpsed in this single short story: it is a satire ranging from buffonery to social commentary, a realist work rooted in naturalistic detail that sometimes descends to the grotesque and the surreal, and yet remains compassionate, maintaining its sympathy for all of us humans and our tragic and ludicrous plight. Not bad for a story slightly more than twelve thousand words in length.
Which brings us to the distinctive characteristic of Gogol: he is a literary conjurer, with an extraordinary ability to shift from tone to tone. The Overcoat begins in low comedy, making fun of its character's name, then describes his shabby living conditions until we begin to see the dead flies and smell the onions. Gogol ridicules his protagonist's rigidity and pomposity, but then—when some younger clerks make fun of him—Gogol shifts his tone again until we grow to regard Akaky with an abiding compassion. From there, Gogol sharpens his social satire, tempering it with a comedy touched with pathos, and ends—not in tragedy, as we suspect it might, but—in nightmare and the supernatural.
We'll let Nabokov have the last word. “[W]ith Gogol this shifting is the very basis of his art... When, as in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced.”
February 15, 2026
First time I read The Overcoat in my schooldays and even if my perception of the story was distorted by my inexperience the impact it made on me was great. It is one of those tales the bona fide literature is made of…
The poor hero’s name was Akakiy Akakievitch – from the Greek akakos, meaning “harmless” – a harmless son of a harmless father… A man as insignificant as a gnat… Unnoticeable existence of a cockroach… But one day this meek little man acquired a great purpose in life – to obtain a new overcoat…
Born to crawl, cannot fly… His high goal became the ruin of him…
The meek shall never inherit the earth.
…in a certain department there was a certain official – not a very high one, it must be allowed – short of stature, somewhat pock-marked, red-haired, and short-sighted, with a bald forehead, wrinkled cheeks, and a complexion of the kind known as sanguine.
The poor hero’s name was Akakiy Akakievitch – from the Greek akakos, meaning “harmless” – a harmless son of a harmless father… A man as insignificant as a gnat… Unnoticeable existence of a cockroach… But one day this meek little man acquired a great purpose in life – to obtain a new overcoat…
From that time forth his existence seemed to become, in some way, fuller, as if he were married, or as if some other man lived in him, as if, in fact, he were not alone, and some pleasant friend had consented to travel along life’s path with him, the friend being no other than the cloak, with thick wadding and a strong lining incapable of wearing out. He became more lively, and even his character grew firmer, like that of a man who has made up his mind, and set himself a goal.
Born to crawl, cannot fly… His high goal became the ruin of him…
The meek shall never inherit the earth.
October 26, 2020
Οργή, θλίψη,οίκτο,πόνο και συμπόνοια, ένιωσα διαβάζοντας αυτό το σπαρακτικο παλιό παλτό.
Ένας ασήμαντος ανθρωπάκος άκακος και δυστυχισμένος πιστός και αφοσιωμένος δημόσιος υπάλληλος υπουργείου απανθρωπιάς αναζητά απλώς την ησυχία του και την τραγικά προβλέψιμη ρουτίνα της φτωχικής του ζωής.
"Είμαι φτωχός κουρασμένος σκυφτός ανθρωπάκος,
των ταπεινών και των άλλων πουλιών φιλαράκος"
Με αιματηρές οικονομίες καταφέρνει να ράψει ένα καινούργιο παλτό που θα τον προστατεύει απο το δριμύ ψύχος αλλα παράλληλα θα του προσδώσει αξία και κύρος στα μάτια των συναδέλφων του που τους χαρακτηρίζει η κακοήθεια και η απανθρωπιά. Αυτό το νέο του απόκτημα γίνεται για τον ίδιο πηγή χαράς και όνειρο ύπαρξης.
"Μία ζωή με κρατάν, με κουνάν μ’ ένα σπάγγο.
Λόγια, σχολειά, μέρα νύχτα δουλειά και στον πάγκο."
Ανατριχιαστικά και τραγικά τα γεγονότα που ακολουθούν για ένα ανθρωπάκι άβουλο και δειλό ταπεινό και ευγενικό που περνάει απαρατήρητο σχεδον αόρατο απο όλους,χαμηλά και υψηλά ιστάμενους.
Όταν πέφτει θύμα ληστείας και χάνει το πολύτιμο παλτό του αρχίζει η συντριπτική θλίψη...
Όπου χαρά πρώτη πρώτη σειρά κάποιος κλέφτης.
Κι όποιο κακό κάνει τ’ αφεντικό, εγώ είμ’ ο φταίχτης."
Το βαθύτερο νόημα αυτού του αριστουργήματος ε��ναι η οικειοθελής δουλοπρέπεια, η ψεύτικη ευγένεια και η ψυχρή ψεύτο αρχοντιά που πρέπει να εχουμε απαραιτήτως για να είμαστε μέρος του συστήματος κρατικού ή μη.
Όλοι αυτοί που υπηρετούν αγόγγυστα έναν μηχανισμό που τους νεκρώνει την ψυχή και το μυαλό και τους χρησιμοποιεί με σκοπό το κέρδος δίνοντας τους ως αντάλλαγμα μάταια υλικά αγαθά αλλα καμία δυνατότητα εξέλιξης και αυτοβελτίωσης.
Μήπως είμαστε και εμείς μέσα;
Διαβάστε το άμεσα !!
⬛️💜⬛️🟦💜
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
Πολλούς ασπασμούς!!
Ένας ασήμαντος ανθρωπάκος άκακος και δυστυχισμένος πιστός και αφοσιωμένος δημόσιος υπάλληλος υπουργείου απανθρωπιάς αναζητά απλώς την ησυχία του και την τραγικά προβλέψιμη ρουτίνα της φτωχικής του ζωής.
"Είμαι φτωχός κουρασμένος σκυφτός ανθρωπάκος,
των ταπεινών και των άλλων πουλιών φιλαράκος"
Με αιματηρές οικονομίες καταφέρνει να ράψει ένα καινούργιο παλτό που θα τον προστατεύει απο το δριμύ ψύχος αλλα παράλληλα θα του προσδώσει αξία και κύρος στα μάτια των συναδέλφων του που τους χαρακτηρίζει η κακοήθεια και η απανθρωπιά. Αυτό το νέο του απόκτημα γίνεται για τον ίδιο πηγή χαράς και όνειρο ύπαρξης.
"Μία ζωή με κρατάν, με κουνάν μ’ ένα σπάγγο.
Λόγια, σχολειά, μέρα νύχτα δουλειά και στον πάγκο."
Ανατριχιαστικά και τραγικά τα γεγονότα που ακολουθούν για ένα ανθρωπάκι άβουλο και δειλό ταπεινό και ευγενικό που περνάει απαρατήρητο σχεδον αόρατο απο όλους,χαμηλά και υψηλά ιστάμενους.
Όταν πέφτει θύμα ληστείας και χάνει το πολύτιμο παλτό του αρχίζει η συντριπτική θλίψη...
Όπου χαρά πρώτη πρώτη σειρά κάποιος κλέφτης.
Κι όποιο κακό κάνει τ’ αφεντικό, εγώ είμ’ ο φταίχτης."
Το βαθύτερο νόημα αυτού του αριστουργήματος ε��ναι η οικειοθελής δουλοπρέπεια, η ψεύτικη ευγένεια και η ψυχρή ψεύτο αρχοντιά που πρέπει να εχουμε απαραιτήτως για να είμαστε μέρος του συστήματος κρατικού ή μη.
Όλοι αυτοί που υπηρετούν αγόγγυστα έναν μηχανισμό που τους νεκρώνει την ψυχή και το μυαλό και τους χρησιμοποιεί με σκοπό το κέρδος δίνοντας τους ως αντάλλαγμα μάταια υλικά αγαθά αλλα καμία δυνατότητα εξέλιξης και αυτοβελτίωσης.
Μήπως είμαστε και εμείς μέσα;
Διαβάστε το άμεσα !!
⬛️💜⬛️🟦💜
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
Πολλούς ασπασμούς!!
June 26, 2025
Re-read for the 2nd time commenced 15th June 2025
This was a great re-read. My focus here was on how pointless, and useless people like the "important personage" were in their professional lives. I say this with no bitterness, nor rancour, but it reminds me of many (almost all) of the senior administrators in my 35 years of public service in health, who were, almost without exception, there to cuddle their own rank and self-importance. Their nurturing of their own self-image was always at the expense of being effective. Gogol, like other authors of his ilk, were great observers of the human animal, particularly in beaurocratic quagmires.
My enjoyment of this third (and it wont be my last) read of this classic was enhanced by being accompanied by the Hostess with the Mostest - Maricarmen, my buddy reader on this occasion 🌹
Re-read commenced 30th Jan 2023
Some additional comments to my previous 1st read review. This second read was a lot of fun, as I obviously know our character a little better - and he still pulls at the heartstrings. I mean, the poor guy - all he wanted (and needed) was a new overcoat.
Other aspects of this story stood out for me this time:
1. The Russian (or Gogol's) obsession with societal hierarchy. He certainly pokes fun at this.
2. Some of the things poor Akakiy needs to do for some months to save for his new overcoat include - stop drinking tea in the evenings, stop using candles (if he needed to do some of his copying at night he would use his land-lady's candle-light, he would have to walk/step/tiptoe lightly on his feet so as not to wear out his shoes (Bahahahahaha - sorry Akakiy), he would avoid sending his clothes to the laundry lady so often - thus making his undies and sockes last longer - both in vivo and their shelf-life. This last fact - and whole sordid episode of underpants was mentioned in my first review below. It's a subject I am passionate about but did cause an unecessary stir in the comments section :))
3. The uptight Important Personage, who Akakiy needed to help him find his stolen overcoat was a funny character - but he took himself very seriously of course as he was a very very senior important person. Some of the important personage's most common phrases used when people approached him for assistance were a) "How dare you?, b) "Do you know who you're talking too?" and c) "Do you realise who is standing before you?" - I almost wet myself laughing when I read that - it is just brilliantly funny, and Gogol made me read it again and again.
Anyway another 5-star read. Next, will be Diary of a Madman in a month or so, I cant wait to gobble up all of my Gogol's.
Previous review from 2021
Sometimes the best reading experiences are the little ones that pop-up out of nowhere, just like The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol.
This story centres around Akakiy Akakievich Shoenik a lowly copying clerk for The Department in St Petersburg, Russia. He is a simple man, doesn’t want much – he’s happiest copying documents, in fact he even does it in his spare time! His co-workers rib him relentlessly, but he takes it – one can only feel sorry for this quiet, unassuming guy.
Poor Akakiy has an overcoat, and it’s very worn and is the cause of much piss-taking in the office. But the threadbare garment gets to the stage where it needs to be repaired (again) or replaced (God forbid!). Enter the half-pickled Petrovich, his local tailor. Akakiy needs to negotiate with the hungover Petrovich for the repair or replacement of the coat. This is where things get interesting.
Anyway - he only gets to wear his new coat for a night - as it is stolen.
Eventually Akakiy comes across an Important Personage - I love that moniker – and the whole fate of Akakiy is turned on its head.
This story has a dark, miserable element to it for sure. Its grim, life is hard – a world without joy. It’s almost Kafkaesque in some ways, particularly in the closing pages. I loved this.
Interesting observation: Akakiy, operated on a roster of two pairs of underpants! I must say this makes my dedicated team of ten pairs a little excessive, I may need to scale back and get some of that all too precious drawer space back!!
Akakiy is a man after my own heart – why throw away perfectly good clothes when they are still wearable? I have never understood people who (a) buy clothes other than when totally necessary and (b) throw away favourite and still functioning pieces of clothing even if it's only the holes and stubborn stains keeping the things together.
In some ways, I think the world would be a much kinder and simpler place if there were more Akakiy’s around, sure they’ll never set the world alight – but, they also don’t seem to cause any aggravation and quietly go about their business. I was certainly on his side.
5 Stars
There are two Reading Group questions at the end of this story for those who’ve read this and want to play
1. Do you sympathise with Akakiy? Yes, I do, as said above – he was harmless and quietly went about his way. People ‘without ambition’ needn’t be the subject of criticism – in many ways, we need more of them. Kind, quiet and dedicated. Go Akakiy!
2. What is your reaction to the trouble that befalls him?. Well Mr Important Personage, is a complete and utter arrogant bastard. The antithesis of our hero Akakiy. This guy is arrogant and a complete bully. The world is too full of people like this, making life miserable for those around them – believing they are entitled to do so purely because of the senior position they hold.
This was a great re-read. My focus here was on how pointless, and useless people like the "important personage" were in their professional lives. I say this with no bitterness, nor rancour, but it reminds me of many (almost all) of the senior administrators in my 35 years of public service in health, who were, almost without exception, there to cuddle their own rank and self-importance. Their nurturing of their own self-image was always at the expense of being effective. Gogol, like other authors of his ilk, were great observers of the human animal, particularly in beaurocratic quagmires.
My enjoyment of this third (and it wont be my last) read of this classic was enhanced by being accompanied by the Hostess with the Mostest - Maricarmen, my buddy reader on this occasion 🌹
Re-read commenced 30th Jan 2023
Some additional comments to my previous 1st read review. This second read was a lot of fun, as I obviously know our character a little better - and he still pulls at the heartstrings. I mean, the poor guy - all he wanted (and needed) was a new overcoat.
Other aspects of this story stood out for me this time:
1. The Russian (or Gogol's) obsession with societal hierarchy. He certainly pokes fun at this.
2. Some of the things poor Akakiy needs to do for some months to save for his new overcoat include - stop drinking tea in the evenings, stop using candles (if he needed to do some of his copying at night he would use his land-lady's candle-light, he would have to walk/step/tiptoe lightly on his feet so as not to wear out his shoes (Bahahahahaha - sorry Akakiy), he would avoid sending his clothes to the laundry lady so often - thus making his undies and sockes last longer - both in vivo and their shelf-life. This last fact - and whole sordid episode of underpants was mentioned in my first review below. It's a subject I am passionate about but did cause an unecessary stir in the comments section :))
3. The uptight Important Personage, who Akakiy needed to help him find his stolen overcoat was a funny character - but he took himself very seriously of course as he was a very very senior important person. Some of the important personage's most common phrases used when people approached him for assistance were a) "How dare you?, b) "Do you know who you're talking too?" and c) "Do you realise who is standing before you?" - I almost wet myself laughing when I read that - it is just brilliantly funny, and Gogol made me read it again and again.
Anyway another 5-star read. Next, will be Diary of a Madman in a month or so, I cant wait to gobble up all of my Gogol's.
Previous review from 2021
Sometimes the best reading experiences are the little ones that pop-up out of nowhere, just like The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol.
This story centres around Akakiy Akakievich Shoenik a lowly copying clerk for The Department in St Petersburg, Russia. He is a simple man, doesn’t want much – he’s happiest copying documents, in fact he even does it in his spare time! His co-workers rib him relentlessly, but he takes it – one can only feel sorry for this quiet, unassuming guy.
Poor Akakiy has an overcoat, and it’s very worn and is the cause of much piss-taking in the office. But the threadbare garment gets to the stage where it needs to be repaired (again) or replaced (God forbid!). Enter the half-pickled Petrovich, his local tailor. Akakiy needs to negotiate with the hungover Petrovich for the repair or replacement of the coat. This is where things get interesting.
Anyway - he only gets to wear his new coat for a night - as it is stolen.
Eventually Akakiy comes across an Important Personage - I love that moniker – and the whole fate of Akakiy is turned on its head.
This story has a dark, miserable element to it for sure. Its grim, life is hard – a world without joy. It’s almost Kafkaesque in some ways, particularly in the closing pages. I loved this.
Interesting observation: Akakiy, operated on a roster of two pairs of underpants! I must say this makes my dedicated team of ten pairs a little excessive, I may need to scale back and get some of that all too precious drawer space back!!
Akakiy is a man after my own heart – why throw away perfectly good clothes when they are still wearable? I have never understood people who (a) buy clothes other than when totally necessary and (b) throw away favourite and still functioning pieces of clothing even if it's only the holes and stubborn stains keeping the things together.
In some ways, I think the world would be a much kinder and simpler place if there were more Akakiy’s around, sure they’ll never set the world alight – but, they also don’t seem to cause any aggravation and quietly go about their business. I was certainly on his side.
5 Stars
There are two Reading Group questions at the end of this story for those who’ve read this and want to play
1. Do you sympathise with Akakiy? Yes, I do, as said above – he was harmless and quietly went about his way. People ‘without ambition’ needn’t be the subject of criticism – in many ways, we need more of them. Kind, quiet and dedicated. Go Akakiy!
2. What is your reaction to the trouble that befalls him?. Well Mr Important Personage, is a complete and utter arrogant bastard. The antithesis of our hero Akakiy. This guy is arrogant and a complete bully. The world is too full of people like this, making life miserable for those around them – believing they are entitled to do so purely because of the senior position they hold.
February 19, 2024
- قصة قصيرة.. عدد صفحاتها بسيط، معانيها تتعدى هذا العدد بأشواط، والمغزى منها عميق ودقيق.
- على الرغم من قصرها، واسلوبها المباشر الا ان الكاتب نسج مقطوعة ادبية بنى عليها كثرٌ ممن كتبوا بعده في روسيا ولعمري انك تستطيع قراءة تشيخوف ودوستوفسكي في هذه الصفحات القليلة.
- على الرغم من قصرها، واسلوبها المباشر الا ان الكاتب نسج مقطوعة ادبية بنى عليها كثرٌ ممن كتبوا بعده في روسيا ولعمري انك تستطيع قراءة تشيخوف ودوستوفسكي في هذه الصفحات القليلة.
February 23, 2017
Recently I read The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri about two generations of an Indian immigrant family to the United States. The main theme of the novel was that the father Ashoke was reading The Overcoat on a train journey. The train derailed and this slim book saved his life. Indebted to the book, Ashoke decided to name his newborn son Nikhil but gave him the nickname Gogol, after the Russian writer whose works he adored. Lahiri even includes snippets of Gogol's life in her novel, but until now I had not read any of his work. It is in this regard, that I chose to read The Overcoat to get a feel for the story that had such a central place in the book.
Nicolai Gogol lived a brief existence from 1809-1852, primarily in Petersburg, Russia, with a few sojourns to Rome. Gogol was a gifted writer who influenced Dostoevsky and Turgenev among others. Sent away to boarding school at the age of ten, Gogol lived most of his life away from his father, and did not have other family to speak of. As a result, he had compassion for the less fortunate of people, and this becomes evident in his famous short story.
Gogol got the idea for The Overcoat at a party with friends when he heard of a civil servant who desires a new gun but could not afford one and saved money in order to do so. Thus, the idea for Akaky Akakyevich and his overcoat was born. Akakyevich survived on a salary of 450 rubles a year and could barely afford food or clothes. He was happy at his job as a copier and had no desire to advance in his profession or to marry. Living in a tiny apartment in the poor side of town, Akakyevich brought home extra work and saved rubles in a tin in order to have the means to afford repairs to his clothing.
One year, his Overcoat was worn beyond repair, and Akaky Akakyevich saved rubles in his tin for a new coat. He convinced his tailor Petrovich in a drunken moment to sew him a new one for only 80 rubles and by doing so was able to survive for another winter. Despite his joy in receiving the new coat, Akakyevich's moment is short lived; however, because others coveted his coat and stole it from him. This fleeting moment sets up a memorable denouement that appears to be out of a folk tale.
I thought The Overcoat was straight forward and accessible to read. I enjoyed the message that Gogol sent to his readers to have compassion on others regardless of one's station in life, and was especially moved when Akakyevich's colleagues took up collection for a new Overcoat for him. This is the second short story I have read by a Russian master this year, and I am glad to see that the stories are folktales in nature and easy to read. I hope stories as The Overcoat lead me to read some of the longer, classic Russian literature, and am glad that Jhumpa Lahiri's novel inspired me to read the works of Nicolai Gogol.
Nicolai Gogol lived a brief existence from 1809-1852, primarily in Petersburg, Russia, with a few sojourns to Rome. Gogol was a gifted writer who influenced Dostoevsky and Turgenev among others. Sent away to boarding school at the age of ten, Gogol lived most of his life away from his father, and did not have other family to speak of. As a result, he had compassion for the less fortunate of people, and this becomes evident in his famous short story.
Gogol got the idea for The Overcoat at a party with friends when he heard of a civil servant who desires a new gun but could not afford one and saved money in order to do so. Thus, the idea for Akaky Akakyevich and his overcoat was born. Akakyevich survived on a salary of 450 rubles a year and could barely afford food or clothes. He was happy at his job as a copier and had no desire to advance in his profession or to marry. Living in a tiny apartment in the poor side of town, Akakyevich brought home extra work and saved rubles in a tin in order to have the means to afford repairs to his clothing.
One year, his Overcoat was worn beyond repair, and Akaky Akakyevich saved rubles in his tin for a new coat. He convinced his tailor Petrovich in a drunken moment to sew him a new one for only 80 rubles and by doing so was able to survive for another winter. Despite his joy in receiving the new coat, Akakyevich's moment is short lived; however, because others coveted his coat and stole it from him. This fleeting moment sets up a memorable denouement that appears to be out of a folk tale.
I thought The Overcoat was straight forward and accessible to read. I enjoyed the message that Gogol sent to his readers to have compassion on others regardless of one's station in life, and was especially moved when Akakyevich's colleagues took up collection for a new Overcoat for him. This is the second short story I have read by a Russian master this year, and I am glad to see that the stories are folktales in nature and easy to read. I hope stories as The Overcoat lead me to read some of the longer, classic Russian literature, and am glad that Jhumpa Lahiri's novel inspired me to read the works of Nicolai Gogol.
May 30, 2020
2020 update: I'm bumping this up to all 5 stars on reread. This Russian tale of an introverted man and his trials relating to an expensive (for him) overcoat really hit me on second read. The characterization is so in-depth for a shorter work, especially as it relates to Akaky, the main character, his tailor, and a small-minded bureaucrat. There's also some really interesting symbolism relating to his overcoat and how it affects both Akaky and the people around him. Recommended!
The English translation on Project Gutenberg (linked at the end of this review) from the original Russian is excellent, except that it still irks me that it's called "the cloak" rather than the overcoat. (It has sleeves; it's an overcoat)
Original review: In my preparation for reading The Metamorphosis, I did some background reading of critical analyses, including this one by Vladimir Nabokov (thanks to Cecily for the link!), where he does a fantastic dissection (heh) of The Metamorphosis but also talks about Gogol's "The Carrick" (aka "The Cloak" or "The Overcoat") and tosses off wonderful ideas like this:
Akaky Akakievich is an absurd, pathetic figure of a man. His name would translate as something very nondescript like "John Johnson," except you also have this deliberate allusion to "kaka" (or caca = feces) in his name; one review site suggested you think of him as Poopy McPooperson. He is a "titular councillor" (read: minor official) who in fact does nothing except act as a human photocopier, all day, every day, for very low pay. He even takes his copy work home with him in the evenings. His only joy in life is derived from his copy work. Even being asked to make the most minor changes to the original version throws him into a tizzy. His co-workers make fun of him, but other than a pitiful protest of "Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?," he quietly carries on.
Until one day, when he realizes that his overcoat has become so threadbare that it won't keep off the cold St. Petersburg winter. After a few skirmishes with his tailor about whether the old coat can be patched up or not, he caves and agrees to save up money for a new coat, which will cost like 20% of his annual wages. Gradually Akaky gets more and more excited about his new coat. And when he finally gets the finished overcoat -- lined with cat fur because marten fur is too expensive (sorry to my feline-loving friends!) -- it causes a sensation in his workplace.
Of course, this being 19th century Russian literature, you know it's going to go south for poor Akaky. But the surprise for me was the ending.
I'm still a little bemused by the unexpected turn from existentialist dark humor to gothic at the end. It didn't quite feel integral to me, Nabokov's inspired praises notwithstanding. So, four stars from me, even though I actually though it was an amusing ending and I liked seeing a certain character get his comeuppance.
Free online several places, including here at Project Gutenberg in a collection of Russian short stories.
The English translation on Project Gutenberg (linked at the end of this review) from the original Russian is excellent, except that it still irks me that it's called "the cloak" rather than the overcoat. (It has sleeves; it's an overcoat)
Original review: In my preparation for reading The Metamorphosis, I did some background reading of critical analyses, including this one by Vladimir Nabokov (thanks to Cecily for the link!), where he does a fantastic dissection (heh) of The Metamorphosis but also talks about Gogol's "The Carrick" (aka "The Cloak" or "The Overcoat") and tosses off wonderful ideas like this:
"The beauty of Kafka's and Gogol's private nightmares is that their central human characters belong to the same private fantastic world as the inhuman characters around them, but the central one tries to get out of that world, to cast off the mask, to transcend the cloak or the carapace."And then there's this haunting quote, attributed to Fyodor Dostoevsky: "We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'." (ETA: Even months later, every time I think about this story, that quote comes to mind.) So off I went to read Nicolai Gogol's short story.
Akaky Akakievich is an absurd, pathetic figure of a man. His name would translate as something very nondescript like "John Johnson," except you also have this deliberate allusion to "kaka" (or caca = feces) in his name; one review site suggested you think of him as Poopy McPooperson. He is a "titular councillor" (read: minor official) who in fact does nothing except act as a human photocopier, all day, every day, for very low pay. He even takes his copy work home with him in the evenings. His only joy in life is derived from his copy work. Even being asked to make the most minor changes to the original version throws him into a tizzy. His co-workers make fun of him, but other than a pitiful protest of "Leave me alone! Why do you insult me?," he quietly carries on.
Until one day, when he realizes that his overcoat has become so threadbare that it won't keep off the cold St. Petersburg winter. After a few skirmishes with his tailor about whether the old coat can be patched up or not, he caves and agrees to save up money for a new coat, which will cost like 20% of his annual wages. Gradually Akaky gets more and more excited about his new coat. And when he finally gets the finished overcoat -- lined with cat fur because marten fur is too expensive (sorry to my feline-loving friends!) -- it causes a sensation in his workplace.
Of course, this being 19th century Russian literature, you know it's going to go south for poor Akaky. But the surprise for me was the ending.
I'm still a little bemused by the unexpected turn from existentialist dark humor to gothic at the end. It didn't quite feel integral to me, Nabokov's inspired praises notwithstanding. So, four stars from me, even though I actually though it was an amusing ending and I liked seeing a certain character get his comeuppance.
Free online several places, including here at Project Gutenberg in a collection of Russian short stories.
August 28, 2017
مقدمة غوغولية :
في السنة الماضية .. درست في الجامعة مادة مهمة جدا و هي مادة الميترولوجيا أو ما يسمى بعلم القياس و الأوزان* . تناولنا من خلالها تاريخ هذا العلم و أهميته الكبرى في تنظيم حياة الناس، و إدخال مصطلح الدقّة في تعاملاتهم في مجالات مختلفة كالمسافات، الأوزان، الحجوم و غيرها الكثير . و تناولنا أيضا النقطة التي يرتكز عليها هذا العلم و هي " المقياس ** أو الشيء الذي تولّد منه أو نتج عنه وحدة القياس ..
و لكن .. هنالك سؤال مهم جدا يتبادر إلى ذهن من قرأ هذه الفقرة .. طبعا ليس السؤال حول تخصصي في الجامعة .. ههههههههه .. و لكن حول علاقة هذه الفقرة و ما احتوته من ثرثرة بالمعطف أو بقصة المعطف . طبعا .. هنالك إجابة واحدة .. قالها من قبل دوستويفسكي .. " كلنا خرجنا من معطف غوغول " و أنا أعيدها بطريقة مختلفة نوعا ما و لكنّها تصبّ في نفس المفهوم، و هي أنّ هذه القصة القصيرة - على الأقل بالنسبة لي - تعتبر بمثابة " المقياس " . و بطيبعة الحال ليست مقياسا للكتابات العادية ( فهذا ظلم لهذه الكتابات ) و لكن هي مقياس للكتابات العبقرية .. وحدة جديدة مضافة إلى قائمة الوحدات المحفوظة دوليا .. و التي وجب وضعها في متحف خاص مع وحدة المتر و الكيلوغرام و غيرها من الوحدات الأخرى المعروفة .
ملاحظة :
و كما في الأسلوب الممل، الكلاسيكي، المضجر، الخانق، الذي يجعلك تلعن كل خطوة إلى المدرسة، الجاف، القديم و كل ما اختزنته ذاكرتنا و نحن نسير
إلى المدرسة من نعوت و صفات .. هههههههه .. المهم هو أنّ علينا الإتيان بمثال توضيحي .. يبين طريقة استعمال هذه الوحدة لنأخذ مثلا قصّة لاعب الشطرنج ..للكاتب النمساوي ستيفان زفاينج . فإذا أردنا أن نطبّق عليها مقياسنا الجديد .. يمكن أن أصنفها ( أو أقيسها ) بثلاث معاطف و نصف .. هههههههه .
ملاحظة على الملاحظة :
مقياس لا يعني الأفضلية .. مثلا لا يعني أننا حين نقول أن قصة لاعب الشطرنج تقييمها هو ثلاث معاطف و نصف أي أنها أحسن من قصّة المعطف بثلاث مرات و نصف .. لا .. لا .. هذا خطأ . أو لنقل أن موضوع الأفضلية ليس موضوعنا .
تنبيه بخصوص ملاحظة الملاحظة :
يمكن أن نقيّم بعض الأعمال بالسالب .. مثال نقيّم قصّة ما بناقص معطف أو ناقص خمس معاطف، و لكن من الأفضل عدم فعل ذلك .. لأنّ هذا المقياس خاص ( بنسبة كبيرة ) بالأعمال العبقرية و فقط .
استنتاج :
:D:D:D:D:D
طبعا االمقدمة غريبة .. و لكن لمن قرأ لغوغول سيعرف أنه لا حدود لهذه الكلمة .. لأنّ أدبه أو ما كتبه هو الغرابة بعينها .
*
*
*
*
المعطف .. قصّة شيء عن كل شيء :
إنسان لم يفكر أحد في حمايته، و لم يكن عزيزا على أحد، و لم يكن أحد يهتم بأمره لا من قريب و لا من بعيد، إنسان عاش في الظلال، وحيدا تماما .. هذا الإنسان قد زال .. اختفى .. تلاشى .. اندثر .. دون ادنى ضجة .. هذه هي القصة .. هذه هي الحبكة .. هذا هو كل شيئ ..
عندما تقرأ أو تبدأ في قراءة هذه القصة ستشعر أنك الكلمات عادية جدا، أن الجمل بسيطة سهلة فيها من السخرية و الغرابة ما فيها .. و لكن هنالك شيء ما داخلي يخبرك أن الذي كتب هذه الكلمات إما عبقري أو مجنون و لكن في هذه الحالة الكاتب عبقري و مجنون في نفس الوقت .
* ( métrologie )
** ( Un étalon )
في السنة الماضية .. درست في الجامعة مادة مهمة جدا و هي مادة الميترولوجيا أو ما يسمى بعلم القياس و الأوزان* . تناولنا من خلالها تاريخ هذا العلم و أهميته الكبرى في تنظيم حياة الناس، و إدخال مصطلح الدقّة في تعاملاتهم في مجالات مختلفة كالمسافات، الأوزان، الحجوم و غيرها الكثير . و تناولنا أيضا النقطة التي يرتكز عليها هذا العلم و هي " المقياس ** أو الشيء الذي تولّد منه أو نتج عنه وحدة القياس ..
و لكن .. هنالك سؤال مهم جدا يتبادر إلى ذهن من قرأ هذه الفقرة .. طبعا ليس السؤال حول تخصصي في الجامعة .. ههههههههه .. و لكن حول علاقة هذه الفقرة و ما احتوته من ثرثرة بالمعطف أو بقصة المعطف . طبعا .. هنالك إجابة واحدة .. قالها من قبل دوستويفسكي .. " كلنا خرجنا من معطف غوغول " و أنا أعيدها بطريقة مختلفة نوعا ما و لكنّها تصبّ في نفس المفهوم، و هي أنّ هذه القصة القصيرة - على الأقل بالنسبة لي - تعتبر بمثابة " المقياس " . و بطيبعة الحال ليست مقياسا للكتابات العادية ( فهذا ظلم لهذه الكتابات ) و لكن هي مقياس للكتابات العبقرية .. وحدة جديدة مضافة إلى قائمة الوحدات المحفوظة دوليا .. و التي وجب وضعها في متحف خاص مع وحدة المتر و الكيلوغرام و غيرها من الوحدات الأخرى المعروفة .
ملاحظة :
و كما في الأسلوب الممل، الكلاسيكي، المضجر، الخانق، الذي يجعلك تلعن كل خطوة إلى المدرسة، الجاف، القديم و كل ما اختزنته ذاكرتنا و نحن نسير
إلى المدرسة من نعوت و صفات .. هههههههه .. المهم هو أنّ علينا الإتيان بمثال توضيحي .. يبين طريقة استعمال هذه الوحدة لنأخذ مثلا قصّة لاعب الشطرنج ..للكاتب النمساوي ستيفان زفاينج . فإذا أردنا أن نطبّق عليها مقياسنا الجديد .. يمكن أن أصنفها ( أو أقيسها ) بثلاث معاطف و نصف .. هههههههه .
ملاحظة على الملاحظة :
مقياس لا يعني الأفضلية .. مثلا لا يعني أننا حين نقول أن قصة لاعب الشطرنج تقييمها هو ثلاث معاطف و نصف أي أنها أحسن من قصّة المعطف بثلاث مرات و نصف .. لا .. لا .. هذا خطأ . أو لنقل أن موضوع الأفضلية ليس موضوعنا .
تنبيه بخصوص ملاحظة الملاحظة :
يمكن أن نقيّم بعض الأعمال بالسالب .. مثال نقيّم قصّة ما بناقص معطف أو ناقص خمس معاطف، و لكن من الأفضل عدم فعل ذلك .. لأنّ هذا المقياس خاص ( بنسبة كبيرة ) بالأعمال العبقرية و فقط .
استنتاج :
:D:D:D:D:D
طبعا االمقدمة غريبة .. و لكن لمن قرأ لغوغول سيعرف أنه لا حدود لهذه الكلمة .. لأنّ أدبه أو ما كتبه هو الغرابة بعينها .
*
*
*
*
المعطف .. قصّة شيء عن كل شيء :
إنسان لم يفكر أحد في حمايته، و لم يكن عزيزا على أحد، و لم يكن أحد يهتم بأمره لا من قريب و لا من بعيد، إنسان عاش في الظلال، وحيدا تماما .. هذا الإنسان قد زال .. اختفى .. تلاشى .. اندثر .. دون ادنى ضجة .. هذه هي القصة .. هذه هي الحبكة .. هذا هو كل شيئ ..
عندما تقرأ أو تبدأ في قراءة هذه القصة ستشعر أنك الكلمات عادية جدا، أن الجمل بسيطة سهلة فيها من السخرية و الغرابة ما فيها .. و لكن هنالك شيء ما داخلي يخبرك أن الذي كتب هذه الكلمات إما عبقري أو مجنون و لكن في هذه الحالة الكاتب عبقري و مجنون في نفس الوقت .
* ( métrologie )
** ( Un étalon )
August 27, 2021
My first contact with Gogol, and certainly not my last.
This little book tells the story of Akakiy Akakievitch, a certain official in a certain department where nobody showed him any sign of respect, being mocked by his coworkers. I believe that must be one of the worst things that may happen to a human being: realising that high school did not end (it doesn't bring back good memories to many people). The bullying, the bad jokes, the embarrassing moments that make you gently ask the ground to eat you alive, the psychological and emotional harm, all of that now at your workplace? You have to love the irony.
The Overcoat is, well, a story about an overcoat. It seems to have more importance than Akakiy himself, the responsible guy with the unfortunate name. That's another thing: mothers, what are you thinking about when you give your children ridiculous names? Please, spare them a lot of trouble, save yourselves a lot of money in psychologists and start naming your kids properly. I don't know why they don't change their own name into some fruit, weird magicians, comic superheroes, cars, cardinal points or anything else they seem to love. Especially you, celebrity people who don't know I exist and won't read this in your entire life.
Rant officially over. (If you search for "Akakiy Akakievitch", you'll understand. I had to do that because I wanted to know why the author spent several lines explaining how he got his name and, of course, I don't speak Russian.)
As I was saying, this book is about And then something happened...
I loved this short story; it contains some beautiful and heartfelt lines...
...that reflect society, then and now. Everything seems to change but the most significant things don't change that much. That's one of the reasons I love literature. Books written hundreds of years ago talking about situations, attitudes, emotions, ways of thinking that we still see, experience and feel nowadays. The responses of the general population towards routine, overbearing bureaucracy, discrimination, injustice, exploitation or alienation haven't changed so much throughout history. Not all writers have what it takes to explore these universal emotions and write something you can immediately relate to. But Gogol seems to be one of them. He had that keen eye meant to observe individuals and humanity as a whole and could write about it so vividly (I could totally see my previous boss in some passages).
Gogol's influence on Russian literature is unquestionable. Dostoyevsky, Bulgakov, even Kafka, so my favourite authors are all connected here.
The Overcoat is a short story that speaks volumes. Do not miss it.
Sep 7, 2013
* Also on my blog.
This little book tells the story of Akakiy Akakievitch, a certain official in a certain department where nobody showed him any sign of respect, being mocked by his coworkers. I believe that must be one of the worst things that may happen to a human being: realising that high school did not end (it doesn't bring back good memories to many people). The bullying, the bad jokes, the embarrassing moments that make you gently ask the ground to eat you alive, the psychological and emotional harm, all of that now at your workplace? You have to love the irony.
The Overcoat is, well, a story about an overcoat. It seems to have more importance than Akakiy himself, the responsible guy with the unfortunate name. That's another thing: mothers, what are you thinking about when you give your children ridiculous names? Please, spare them a lot of trouble, save yourselves a lot of money in psychologists and start naming your kids properly. I don't know why they don't change their own name into some fruit, weird magicians, comic superheroes, cars, cardinal points or anything else they seem to love. Especially you, celebrity people who don't know I exist and won't read this in your entire life.
Rant officially over. (If you search for "Akakiy Akakievitch", you'll understand. I had to do that because I wanted to know why the author spent several lines explaining how he got his name and, of course, I don't speak Russian.)
As I was saying, this book is about And then something happened...
I loved this short story; it contains some beautiful and heartfelt lines...
...and many a time afterwards, in the course of his life, shuddered at seeing how much inhumanity there is in man, how much savage coarseness is concealed beneath delicate, refined worldliness, and even, O God! in that man whom the world acknowledges as honorable and noble.
...that reflect society, then and now. Everything seems to change but the most significant things don't change that much. That's one of the reasons I love literature. Books written hundreds of years ago talking about situations, attitudes, emotions, ways of thinking that we still see, experience and feel nowadays. The responses of the general population towards routine, overbearing bureaucracy, discrimination, injustice, exploitation or alienation haven't changed so much throughout history. Not all writers have what it takes to explore these universal emotions and write something you can immediately relate to. But Gogol seems to be one of them. He had that keen eye meant to observe individuals and humanity as a whole and could write about it so vividly (I could totally see my previous boss in some passages).
Gogol's influence on Russian literature is unquestionable. Dostoyevsky, Bulgakov, even Kafka, so my favourite authors are all connected here.
The Overcoat is a short story that speaks volumes. Do not miss it.
Sep 7, 2013
* Also on my blog.
May 15, 2026
Here is a novel as we like them: an in-depth character study, in which, in a few pages, we identify the personality, a framework that holds from start to finish, a turnaround, and a clear, clean end.
Here, we find a poor copyist with only a worn-out hood with holes on his back. That's his dream: to afford a coat. He saves every ruble until he can finally afford it!
Yes, but here it is: a few days after his previous purchases, he gets robbed, and everything drops until it dies.
And there, Gogol takes a big step towards mysticism by making his character return as a ghost-like masked avenger who strips the inhabitants of their coats. He will not find rest until he has obtained the one who will bring him death!
Here, we find a poor copyist with only a worn-out hood with holes on his back. That's his dream: to afford a coat. He saves every ruble until he can finally afford it!
Yes, but here it is: a few days after his previous purchases, he gets robbed, and everything drops until it dies.
And there, Gogol takes a big step towards mysticism by making his character return as a ghost-like masked avenger who strips the inhabitants of their coats. He will not find rest until he has obtained the one who will bring him death!
May 17, 2022
A tragic, Kafkaesque* morality tale about social isolation, bureaucracy, and the danger of judging by appearances.
Akakii has a menial office job in a department where no one respects him and promotion is unlikely. But he is dutiful and never complains, “content with his fate”.
When his threadbare overcoat cannot hold yet another repair, he saves up for a year to afford a new one, excitedly planning the design with a tailor. The coat is worth the wait and sacrifices. For the first time in his life, he feels confident, visible, and respected by colleagues and strangers alike. But it seems more like mockery that he doesn’t recognise (he comes across as being on the autistic spectrum).
A twist sends him on a wild goose chase through officialdom, never able to find the right person, or to have followed the correct procedure. The ending is Dickensian, but also with echoes of Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener (see my review HERE).
Image: Cover by Igor Grabar, 1890s (Source)
*As clarified in comments, Kafka came after Gogol, and quite possibly read him (he certainly read other Russian greats). However, Kafkaesque is a familiar term and concept in English, whereas Gogolesque is sadly not.
More Gogol
I’ve reviewed four Gogol short stories, including this, in a GR review, HERE.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
Akakii has a menial office job in a department where no one respects him and promotion is unlikely. But he is dutiful and never complains, “content with his fate”.
When his threadbare overcoat cannot hold yet another repair, he saves up for a year to afford a new one, excitedly planning the design with a tailor. The coat is worth the wait and sacrifices. For the first time in his life, he feels confident, visible, and respected by colleagues and strangers alike. But it seems more like mockery that he doesn’t recognise (he comes across as being on the autistic spectrum).
A twist sends him on a wild goose chase through officialdom, never able to find the right person, or to have followed the correct procedure. The ending is Dickensian, but also with echoes of Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener (see my review HERE).
Image: Cover by Igor Grabar, 1890s (Source)
*As clarified in comments, Kafka came after Gogol, and quite possibly read him (he certainly read other Russian greats). However, Kafkaesque is a familiar term and concept in English, whereas Gogolesque is sadly not.
More Gogol
I’ve reviewed four Gogol short stories, including this, in a GR review, HERE.
Short story club
I reread this as one of the stories in The Art of the Short Story, by Dana Gioia, from which I'm aiming to read one story a week with The Short Story Club, starting 2 May 2022.
You can read this story here.
You can join the group here.
September 20, 2018
“We all come out of Gogol's 'Overcoat" Fyodor Dostoevsky "
March 19, 2021
وهكذا زال واختفى إلى الأبد إنسان لم يفكر أحد من الخلق في حمايته، ولم يكن عزيزا على أحد
ولم يكن أحد يهتم بأمره لا من قريب ولا من بعيد
ولا حتى عالِم التاريخ الطبيعي الذي لم يكن ليقاوم غرز دبوس في جناح ذبابة منزلية وفحصها تحت مجهره
إنسان تحمل هزء وسخرية زملائه من غير أن يتذمر ويعبر عن احتجاجه
إنسان ذهب إلى مرقده الأخير بلا أدنى ضجة
ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
ألا تتفق معي في أن القصص التي تحكي عن المهمشين هي الأعظم بين كل ما كُتب في الأدب؟
يذكرني أكاكي أكاكيفيتش بمأساة موظف تشيخوف
مأساة أغلب من يعيشون على هذه الأرض ويموتون كالهوام
هم مجرد أرقام في سجلات واحصائيات
لا بشر من لحم ودم وأعصاب يحلمون أحلاما بسيطة
وينتظرون ويموتون من الانتظار
ولعلهم الآن أشباحا تسكن أماكن طالما تاقت إليها
وتحاول تعويض ما فاتها أو الانتقام لحرمانها أو تهميشها
يريد أكاكيفيتش المسكين معطفا يخفي هيئته وحاله
يخفي فقر ملبسه وبؤسه وأحلامه الساذجة المقتولة
كما يخفي بخطه الجميل تفاهة ما يكتب وينسخ
لا يرى نفسه بعيون أحد سواه
ولا يبالي سوى بعالمه الصغير المدفون في غرفة تكفيه بالكاد
قانع تماما .. مستسلم تماما .. مسكين تماما
يرتّق معطفه القديم مرة بعد مرة حتى صار مزقا .. ويستمر في النسخ بهمة وولع
ويفرح كالأطفال بالمعطف الجديد
ويموت من الحزن حين يفقده
يقولون أن الرواية الروسيّة خرجت من هذا المعطف
يفهم المرء الآن لما هي بهذه العظمة
...
October 16, 2019
Así desapareció un ser humano a quien nadie defendió, a quien nadie había querido, por quien nadie se interesó… Fue un ser que soportó humildemente las burlas de sus colegas y que bajó a la tumba sin haber realizado nada extraordinario.
Yo siempre voy a trazar un triángulo de similitud entre el personaje Akaky Akákievich con Gregor Samsa de “La Metamorfosis” de Franz Kafka y “Bartleby el escribiente” de Herman Melville (y tal vez podría incluir a un cuarto personaje, me refiero a “Wakefield” de Nathaniel Hawthorne).
Nikólai Gógol, con una economía de fuerzas y una austeridad de diálogos entre los personajes sumado a la poca información que nos brinda de ellos creó un cuento maravilloso que para aquellos desprevenidos que creen que su principio es un tanto cómico, de esto no tiene nada y va girando hacia una tragedia anunciada.
Akaky ha nacido para perder. Es un “profesional de la derrota” como llamaba Borges a los personajes kafkianos y sufre. De los personajes comentados creo que junto con Samsa es el que más desprecio sufre. Gregor es discriminado por su propia familia mientras que Akaky es objeto de burlas por parte de sus propios compañeros de trabajo, que lo tildan como un completo don nadie: “¡Déjenme en paz! ¿Por qué me ofenden?” Y simultáneamente con estas palabras sonaban otras: “Soy tu hermano”. Y el pobre joven se tapaba la cara con las manos y se estremecía, consciente de la crueldad de los hombres y de la burda estupidez que se ocultaba bajo la refinada y culta capa de la vida humana.
La obsesión, que es una de las características principales de este cuento, se centra en su capote raído y casi inservible, que va formándole la idea primero, de remendarlo (aunque ya no se pueda) y luego el de inferirse mil privaciones para poder ahorrar esos ochenta rublos que le permitan a Petrovich, su sastre, confeccionarle uno nuevo.
Pero, claro está, esta no es una historia con final feliz, como no lo es de ninguna manera ni “La metamorfosis” ni “Bartleby, el escribiente”. Más que cuentos son crónicas de batallas perdidas. Como en los otros cuentos sucede que a Akaky todo le cuesta horrores: ahorrar dinero, sufrir el frío y privaciones, eliminar las cenas, y especialmente pedirle un aumento a su superior que es un simple empleado que de buenas a primeras se transforma en una "persona importante”, como lo define y llama el autor, transformándose en un déspota que lo humilla sin piedad.
Akaky posee esa connotación que veremos en los personajes kafkianos, que son sometidos a un mundo injusto, que no los perdona y que les hace la vida difícil. Ni que hablar del Bartleby de Melville quien él mismo se impone la actitud de bajar los brazos para no luchar.
El posterior suceso que desencadena la debacle de Akaky será el golpe de gracia que lo termine de derrotar: "Akaky Akákievich sólo se dio cuenta de cómo le quitaban el capote y le daban una patada que lo hacían caer sobre la nieve; luego no sintió nada más."
Lo que parecía una jocosa descripción de un empleaducho de oficina termina como la dolorosa tragedia sobre la pérdida (otra de las características más sobresalientes de este cuento) para llegar a un final que difiere de los cuentos anteriores.
"El capote" tiene un final sobrenatural, de cuento fantástico y a partir de allí, Gógol intentará reivindicar la integridad y el buen nombre de este personaje nacido y marcado para perder.
Akaky Akákievich terminará ganando (a su manera) su partida, pero para ellos debemos atravesar unas cuantas páginas de sufrimientos.
Creo que aquí esta la grandeza de Gógol: la de permitirnos reír pero también sentirnos tristes. Son pocos los autores que pueden combinar estos elementos y salir airosos, pero bueno, estamos hablando del gran Nikólai Gógol, uno de los padres de la literatura rusa junto con Alexandr Pushkin y uno de los autores que siempre seguiré releyendo y disfrutando.
Yo siempre voy a trazar un triángulo de similitud entre el personaje Akaky Akákievich con Gregor Samsa de “La Metamorfosis” de Franz Kafka y “Bartleby el escribiente” de Herman Melville (y tal vez podría incluir a un cuarto personaje, me refiero a “Wakefield” de Nathaniel Hawthorne).
Nikólai Gógol, con una economía de fuerzas y una austeridad de diálogos entre los personajes sumado a la poca información que nos brinda de ellos creó un cuento maravilloso que para aquellos desprevenidos que creen que su principio es un tanto cómico, de esto no tiene nada y va girando hacia una tragedia anunciada.
Akaky ha nacido para perder. Es un “profesional de la derrota” como llamaba Borges a los personajes kafkianos y sufre. De los personajes comentados creo que junto con Samsa es el que más desprecio sufre. Gregor es discriminado por su propia familia mientras que Akaky es objeto de burlas por parte de sus propios compañeros de trabajo, que lo tildan como un completo don nadie: “¡Déjenme en paz! ¿Por qué me ofenden?” Y simultáneamente con estas palabras sonaban otras: “Soy tu hermano”. Y el pobre joven se tapaba la cara con las manos y se estremecía, consciente de la crueldad de los hombres y de la burda estupidez que se ocultaba bajo la refinada y culta capa de la vida humana.
La obsesión, que es una de las características principales de este cuento, se centra en su capote raído y casi inservible, que va formándole la idea primero, de remendarlo (aunque ya no se pueda) y luego el de inferirse mil privaciones para poder ahorrar esos ochenta rublos que le permitan a Petrovich, su sastre, confeccionarle uno nuevo.
Pero, claro está, esta no es una historia con final feliz, como no lo es de ninguna manera ni “La metamorfosis” ni “Bartleby, el escribiente”. Más que cuentos son crónicas de batallas perdidas. Como en los otros cuentos sucede que a Akaky todo le cuesta horrores: ahorrar dinero, sufrir el frío y privaciones, eliminar las cenas, y especialmente pedirle un aumento a su superior que es un simple empleado que de buenas a primeras se transforma en una "persona importante”, como lo define y llama el autor, transformándose en un déspota que lo humilla sin piedad.
Akaky posee esa connotación que veremos en los personajes kafkianos, que son sometidos a un mundo injusto, que no los perdona y que les hace la vida difícil. Ni que hablar del Bartleby de Melville quien él mismo se impone la actitud de bajar los brazos para no luchar.
El posterior suceso que desencadena la debacle de Akaky será el golpe de gracia que lo termine de derrotar: "Akaky Akákievich sólo se dio cuenta de cómo le quitaban el capote y le daban una patada que lo hacían caer sobre la nieve; luego no sintió nada más."
Lo que parecía una jocosa descripción de un empleaducho de oficina termina como la dolorosa tragedia sobre la pérdida (otra de las características más sobresalientes de este cuento) para llegar a un final que difiere de los cuentos anteriores.
"El capote" tiene un final sobrenatural, de cuento fantástico y a partir de allí, Gógol intentará reivindicar la integridad y el buen nombre de este personaje nacido y marcado para perder.
Akaky Akákievich terminará ganando (a su manera) su partida, pero para ellos debemos atravesar unas cuantas páginas de sufrimientos.
Creo que aquí esta la grandeza de Gógol: la de permitirnos reír pero también sentirnos tristes. Son pocos los autores que pueden combinar estos elementos y salir airosos, pero bueno, estamos hablando del gran Nikólai Gógol, uno de los padres de la literatura rusa junto con Alexandr Pushkin y uno de los autores que siempre seguiré releyendo y disfrutando.
March 27, 2021
Mi más sincera enhorabuena a la ilustradora de la edición que Nórdica hizo de “El capote”, Noemí Villamuza. Fantásticos dibujos y acertadísima la elección que hizo la editorial para ilustrar la portada. En ella se ve a Akaki Akákievich, un hombre mortecino, cándido, un poco asustado, poquita cosa dentro del capote que con muchos sacrificios consiguió mandar hacerse y por el que, tristemente, su “vida se llenó de luz y de sentido por un instante”. Un deseo, quizás el único que tuvo en su vida, por un objeto material que llegó a modificar su forma de sentirse en el mundo y que, como todo lo material, es perecedero. Un deseo que rompió su anodina rutina en la que disfrutaba haciendo bien su humilde trabajo de copista hasta el punto de acostarse cada noche satisfecho con su vida y ello pese a las burlas de los compañeros y el desprecio de sus superiores que estoicamente aguantaba día tras día. Un hombre insignificante en un mundo indiferente cuando no cruel y, al fin y al cabo, igual de ridículo y grotesco en sus ridículas y grotescas ocupaciones, en sus ridículas y grotescas creencias.
P.D. Al personaje se le suele relacionar con el Bartleby de Melville o el Gregorio Samsa de Kafka, incluso se le califica de antecedente de ambos. Por mi parte no he encontrado más relación que la de ser todos ellos seres inadaptados en un mundo incomprensible y que los tres cuentos son lo suficientemente abiertos como para aguantar interpretaciones diferentes acordes al carácter de cada lector, lo que hace de ellos grandes clásicos.
P.P.D. En este sentido, mi carácter me impide interpretar el final del relato en términos fantásticos, y ver más bien en ello un reflejo de la estúpida credulidad humana tan bien utilizada por los más listos.
P.P.P.D. Y en este sentido, me hizo mucha gracia leer esta queja, una triste e irritante defensa que siguen utilizando muchos cuando se les critica por sus actos personales. Ridículo y grotesco que siga funcionando.
“En los tiempos que corren, cada particular considera que si se toca a su persona se ofende al conjunto de la sociedad”
December 8, 2022
The Overcoat tells the story of life and death of one Akaky Akakievich, a government official in a certain department. The first part of the story introduces us to the personality of Akaky and his poor living conditions. The job though satisfying doesn't earn enough to keep him well clothed and bred. He is extremely reserved and becomes a constant subject of ridicule. Gogol plants Akaky well in the reader’s hearts in this first part arousing their compassion. Akaky, after much labour and suffering, becomes a proud owner of an overcoat. And here ends the first part of the story.
In the second part of the story, the reader learns the misfortune of Akaky. He is robbed of his overcoat; his efforts at recovering his lost property are rendered futile. His disappointment over his loss and the exposure to ill weather in its absence sees him to an early grave. But here the story gets better, for Akaky comes back from the dead to seek justice and takes revenge from those who had failed to help him!
This little story tells many things: It exposes the poverty-stricken lives of middle class working people; it shows the uncompassionate and bullying nature of the humans; it brings to light the inefficiency and unjust and unsatisfactory conduct of government bureaucrats of Russia under the Imperial regime. Akaky’s ghost haunting the officials is kind of a hint that someday the tolerance for such governance might end in a catastrophe (as was seen years later).
Gogol is said to be a pioneer in realistic writing. His writing as is portrayed in The Overcoat is touched on real characters and real themes that concern human society. Dostoevsky once said that “We all come from Gogol’s Overcoat” and this is a very good indication that how influential Gogol’s work had been on Russian literature.
There is an easy grace in his writing which makes it undemanding to read. It is one of the best attributes of his writing. His direct and at times sardonic writing is quite appealing. It is not right to draw comparisons between the literary masters especially from different literary traditions, but so far the writing is concerned, I couldn’t help comparing his writing with that of Charles Dickens and Oscar Wild.
Overall, I enjoyed this short work. Personally, I cannot place Gogol in the same light as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, but I do like his style.
In the second part of the story, the reader learns the misfortune of Akaky. He is robbed of his overcoat; his efforts at recovering his lost property are rendered futile. His disappointment over his loss and the exposure to ill weather in its absence sees him to an early grave. But here the story gets better, for Akaky comes back from the dead to seek justice and takes revenge from those who had failed to help him!
This little story tells many things: It exposes the poverty-stricken lives of middle class working people; it shows the uncompassionate and bullying nature of the humans; it brings to light the inefficiency and unjust and unsatisfactory conduct of government bureaucrats of Russia under the Imperial regime. Akaky’s ghost haunting the officials is kind of a hint that someday the tolerance for such governance might end in a catastrophe (as was seen years later).
Gogol is said to be a pioneer in realistic writing. His writing as is portrayed in The Overcoat is touched on real characters and real themes that concern human society. Dostoevsky once said that “We all come from Gogol’s Overcoat” and this is a very good indication that how influential Gogol’s work had been on Russian literature.
There is an easy grace in his writing which makes it undemanding to read. It is one of the best attributes of his writing. His direct and at times sardonic writing is quite appealing. It is not right to draw comparisons between the literary masters especially from different literary traditions, but so far the writing is concerned, I couldn’t help comparing his writing with that of Charles Dickens and Oscar Wild.
Overall, I enjoyed this short work. Personally, I cannot place Gogol in the same light as Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, but I do like his style.
July 17, 2021
Loved it!
March 1, 2023
اصدقائى القراء يعلمون مدى عشقي للكتابات الروسية و انها المفضلة لى و بوجه الخصوص دوستويفسكي و كانت دائماً تتردد جملة على مسامعى كانت على لسان دوستويفسكي " كلنا خرجنا من معطف جوجول " و استطيع الان ان افهم مدى عمق هذة الجملة و تاثيرها على الادب الروسى كله و العالمى لكن مع النهاية فهمت اكثر جملة غابريل غارسيا ماركيز: "إن الواقعية السحرية لأميركا اللاتينية مدينة إلى حد كبير لقصة (المعطف) لغوغول ".
جوجول اصر من البداية ان يحكى بضمير المتكلم و اعتقد انه كان سبب فى التاثر اكثر لانى اصبحت كأني شبح ارى ما يحدث امامى و لا استطيع التدخل لمنعه او ابداء اى رد فعل و اللغة الساخرة و التهكمية فى بداية القصة تختلف كثيراً عن لغة تشيخوف , احساس القهر و الضعف كان يشع بين السطور و كانك على علم ان هذة القصة لن تنتهى بنهاية ساخرة او سعيدة و قد كان و النهاية كانت مأساوية .
البداية صورت لك كم ان اكاكي ضعيف الجسد ، بائس ، ضعيف البصر ، وجهه ملئ بالتجاعيد كلها لرسم مدى وضاعة الشخصية ثم بعد ان انتهى من صفاته الجسدية بدا بمكانته الاجتماعية كموظف صغير لا يقوى على شئ ولا يحترمه احد فى المكتب و يسخروا منه دائما و قد تجلى هذا المشهد على لسانه فى :
معطفه الذى اصبح بالياً من كثرة الرقع لم يجد الخياط اى محاولة اخرى لاصلاحه و نصحه بتفصيل واحد جديد و لكن قلة المال و الفقر جعله يحرم نفسه من الاكل لمدة عام و يعيش على وجبة واحدة فى حالة تقشفية مؤلمة فقط حتى يوفر معطف جديد يقيه من برد الشتاء فلم يصبح المعطف فقط اداء للدفء بل اصبح حلم على وشك ان يصبح حقيقة اخيراً , عندما يستلم المعطف اخيراً ترى بوضوح كم ان هذا المعطف ارجع له ثقته بنفسه لكن الموظفين استمروا فى السخرية و ارادوا الاحتفال معه لاستكمال المسرحية , اعتزازه بنفسه كان حلم و المعطف كان حياة جديدة له لكن الحلم الجميل لم يطول كثيراً و تم سرقته ليلا و هو عائد ، ليرجع تانى لمعطفه القديم و عندما يطلب المساعدة من شخص ذؤ شان يتطاول عليه فى محاوله لارضاء نقصه الشخصى .
النهاية كانت غريبة لكنها رمزية و اسقاط للتمرد و الثورة و كان حاله يقول انما للصبر حدود , لم تكن تجربتى الاولى مع جوجول فى الانف و رمزيتها و اسقاطتها موفقة بالنسبة لى لكني ارفع له القبعة فى المعطف .
جوجول اصر من البداية ان يحكى بضمير المتكلم و اعتقد انه كان سبب فى التاثر اكثر لانى اصبحت كأني شبح ارى ما يحدث امامى و لا استطيع التدخل لمنعه او ابداء اى رد فعل و اللغة الساخرة و التهكمية فى بداية القصة تختلف كثيراً عن لغة تشيخوف , احساس القهر و الضعف كان يشع بين السطور و كانك على علم ان هذة القصة لن تنتهى بنهاية ساخرة او سعيدة و قد كان و النهاية كانت مأساوية .
البداية صورت لك كم ان اكاكي ضعيف الجسد ، بائس ، ضعيف البصر ، وجهه ملئ بالتجاعيد كلها لرسم مدى وضاعة الشخصية ثم بعد ان انتهى من صفاته الجسدية بدا بمكانته الاجتماعية كموظف صغير لا يقوى على شئ ولا يحترمه احد فى المكتب و يسخروا منه دائما و قد تجلى هذا المشهد على لسانه فى :
" لم يكن له احد من العالملين فى المكتب اى احترام ، فعندما يدخل لم يبق البوابون جالسين فحسب و إما لم يعيروه اى اهتمام او بلقوا عليه نظرة ، كما لو كان ذبابة منزل عادية مرقت عبر غرفة الجلوس "
معطفه الذى اصبح بالياً من كثرة الرقع لم يجد الخياط اى محاولة اخرى لاصلاحه و نصحه بتفصيل واحد جديد و لكن قلة المال و الفقر جعله يحرم نفسه من الاكل لمدة عام و يعيش على وجبة واحدة فى حالة تقشفية مؤلمة فقط حتى يوفر معطف جديد يقيه من برد الشتاء فلم يصبح المعطف فقط اداء للدفء بل اصبح حلم على وشك ان يصبح حقيقة اخيراً , عندما يستلم المعطف اخيراً ترى بوضوح كم ان هذا المعطف ارجع له ثقته بنفسه لكن الموظفين استمروا فى السخرية و ارادوا الاحتفال معه لاستكمال المسرحية , اعتزازه بنفسه كان حلم و المعطف كان حياة جديدة له لكن الحلم الجميل لم يطول كثيراً و تم سرقته ليلا و هو عائد ، ليرجع تانى لمعطفه القديم و عندما يطلب المساعدة من شخص ذؤ شان يتطاول عليه فى محاوله لارضاء نقصه الشخصى .
النهاية كانت غريبة لكنها رمزية و اسقاط للتمرد و الثورة و كان حاله يقول انما للصبر حدود , لم تكن تجربتى الاولى مع جوجول فى الانف و رمزيتها و اسقاطتها موفقة بالنسبة لى لكني ارفع له القبعة فى المعطف .
July 5, 2016
I am aghast that it took me until the ripe old age I am today to read this wonderful short story. Don't let my story be yours. It takes 30 minutes to read. Invest it today.
Also, I read it because of Tadiana's most excellent review, to which I can add nothing of value. It's a must-read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Also, I read it because of Tadiana's most excellent review, to which I can add nothing of value. It's a must-read.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 31, 2018
I absolutely love it ... Kamaszkin as a tragic character always moves me ...
May 19, 2022
Given that there are almost an infinite number of topics one could discuss in The Overcoat, for this review I wanted to centre on the Narrator.
The Narrator, who speaks through the first-person plural (in the Royal “We”) comes across as unreliable – there are things he has forgotten (we cannot recall; memory fails us”); he gets easily side-tracked in the story (the section on what being a VIP entails, although very funny, is too long a digression for a short story); and he can also focus on apparently irrelevant detail as if he were losing his bearings (the tailor has a big toe and an ugly nail..). But he also regularly provides several clues that aim at adding veracity to his story, insisting that he is not inventing things (his 'forgetting' indicates that the events he is narrated are not the product of his imagination - they really happened). A few times he addresses the reader directly, acknowledging that the medium is a text, and he shifts between functioning as an omniscient narrator and as someone who was a direct witness to the action (he seemed to be present at Akaky’s birth and christening).
The Narrator is also conscious that he is producing a literary work, and expresses that he’d rather not go into some details (such as any further information on the tailor Petrovich), he goes ahead nonetheless because literary tradition requires it .. as it is nowadays expected that the personality of every character in a story be clearly sketched out…. In some instances he admits that he does not understand everything ( Why did he laugh?) or that he cannot get inside another person's mind. At one point he acknowledges that parts of the story (to whom the bounty/inheritance went) bore him (even the person who tells his tale took little interest in the matter), but again he feels under the literary obligation to at least mention them.
That he is an individual is proving by the timid inclusion of some of his ‘small’ prejudices – the dreadful Petersburg weather, the 'ugly' Germans, and 'the French!' —but overall, he remains cooly unjudgmental regarding the main story, as if it followed a logic or an internal coherence as absurd as any other.
Considering this is from 1843, this shifty, slippery, sneaky narrator, comes across as surprisingly and disconcertingly modern.
It is not surprising that Dostoyevsky declared "We all came out from under Gogol's 'Overcoat'"
September 1, 2021
The Overcoat is a sad and sobering short story set in St. Petersburg, Russia. I read it with earnest hope for a good outcome, yet with a knowing tug that grew surer by the minute that it was a lost cause.
Akaky Akakievich Shoenik is a lowly copying clerk who takes pride in his poor paying job. He wears a shabby frock coat that has worn out so thin it lets the draft in. In Petersburg, the poor are at the mercy of the northern cold. ‘And when the cold pinched the brows and brings tears to the eyes of those in high positions, ninth-class clerks are completely defenseless.’ I felt Akaky’s desperate need for a new overcoat, his abject poverty, and effort to scrimp and save in order to have a new one made. That the young clerks mock and laugh at him and make his irredeemable overcoat the butt of their jokes made me feel tenderly toward him. Oh, wouldn’t it be grand if he could at last own a coat he can be proud of and one that can protect him not just from the physical cold but the social disrespect that is his lot in life?
And so I followed him on his quest for a new overcoat and more importantly, his unspoken quest for compassion among those who had the means to render him assistance. Gogol unsentimentally revealed the harshness of Russian society in which rank was all important and decried the cruelty of man toward man.
This is my first foray into the writing of Nikolai Gogol and I wish to read more by him. This story can be read here: The Overcoat
Akaky Akakievich Shoenik is a lowly copying clerk who takes pride in his poor paying job. He wears a shabby frock coat that has worn out so thin it lets the draft in. In Petersburg, the poor are at the mercy of the northern cold. ‘And when the cold pinched the brows and brings tears to the eyes of those in high positions, ninth-class clerks are completely defenseless.’ I felt Akaky’s desperate need for a new overcoat, his abject poverty, and effort to scrimp and save in order to have a new one made. That the young clerks mock and laugh at him and make his irredeemable overcoat the butt of their jokes made me feel tenderly toward him. Oh, wouldn’t it be grand if he could at last own a coat he can be proud of and one that can protect him not just from the physical cold but the social disrespect that is his lot in life?
And so I followed him on his quest for a new overcoat and more importantly, his unspoken quest for compassion among those who had the means to render him assistance. Gogol unsentimentally revealed the harshness of Russian society in which rank was all important and decried the cruelty of man toward man.
This is my first foray into the writing of Nikolai Gogol and I wish to read more by him. This story can be read here: The Overcoat
January 13, 2020
" وهكذا زال وأختفى إلى الأبد إنسان لم يفكر أحد من الخلق في حمايته، ولم يكن عزيزاً على أحد، ولم يكن يهتم أحد بأمره لا من قريب ولا من بعيد .. إنسان تحمل هزء وسخرية زملائه من غير أن يتذمر، إنسان ذهب إلى مرقده الأخير بلا أدنى ضجة .. ظهر فجأة زائر مضيء على هيئة معطف، ليضيء حياته البائسة لمجرد لحظة خاطفة، مخلوق حلت به نكبة قاسية كما تحل النكبات بالملوك وعظماء البشر على هذه الأرض .. "
July 8, 2017
تتردد مقولة أن الأدب الروسي في القرن التاسع عشر خرج من تحت معطف جوجول. وهي مقولة صحيحة إلى حدٍ كبير، ولكن ما انا متأكد منه يقيناً أنني أدين بالفضل لهذه "النوفيلا" - التي قرأتها في بداية سنين المراهقة وأثناء دراستي الجامعية وفي شبابي وللآن دون ان تفقد قدرتها على التأثير في وإمتاعي - بحبي للأدب القصصي والروائي الجاد عامةً وللأدب الروسي في القرن التاسع عشر خاصةً.
May 27, 2017
The Overcoat
★★★★ 4 Engaging Stars!
I first heard of this story while reading Jhumpa Lahiri's 2003 fantastic novel The Namesake. Since then, I've been curious to read it and I finally had a chance to do it. (If you Google "The Namesake and The Overcoat", you'll find plenty of posts analyzing the connection between the two).
The Overcoat follows the life and death of Akaky Akakievich, a middle-aged man, that works as a government clerk in St. Petersburg. Akaky, whose annual salary of 400 rubles barely allows him to survive, is deeply passionate about his job. He's a recluse, neglects his appearance and never pays attention to what is happening around him. Because of his odd personality and isolated lifestyle, his coworkers constantly make fun of him, but Akaky rarely lets this affect his performance at work.
One day after he notices that his back is hurting, Akaky soon determines that the problem is that his overcoat is so worn out that is not protecting him from the icy winds that blow through the city. He decides to take the item to his tailor, Petrovitch, to see if he can mend it. After some back and forth between the two, Petrovitch tells Akaky that there's no way to patch the coat and that he'll have to buy a new one.
A stamp depicting "The Overcoat", from the souvenir sheet of Russia devoted to the 200th birth anniversary of Nikolai Gogol, 2009 (Via Wikipedia)
Initially, Akaky is taken aback when Petrovitch estimates that a new overcoat will cost around 150 rubles, more than a third of his annual salary. But eventually, he resigns himself to the idea and, paradoxically, discovers that the quest to put aside the money has actually brought a new sense of purpose to his otherwise dull existence. After receiving a higher than expected bonus, along with some money he's been saving, Akaky is finally ready to purchase his new piece of garment.
The day he receives the coat is the happiest of Akaky's life. Sadly, his elation is short-lived as a sudden turn of events ends with the loss of his coat, a devastating illness and ultimately, his own demise. Soon after he dies, Akaky returns as a ghost to haunt those that were cruel to him, in particular, a superintendent that refused to help him when the overcoat was reported lost.
For a story published in 1842, I found the language of The Overcoat surprisingly approachable. Gogol's not so veiled criticism of the Russian political establishment as well as his sardonic depiction of government bureaucrats was particularly delightful.
An engaging, well-written story that can be read in less than an hour. Recommended for those that enjoy classic literature and short stories.
★★★★ 4 Engaging Stars!
I first heard of this story while reading Jhumpa Lahiri's 2003 fantastic novel The Namesake. Since then, I've been curious to read it and I finally had a chance to do it. (If you Google "The Namesake and The Overcoat", you'll find plenty of posts analyzing the connection between the two).
The Overcoat follows the life and death of Akaky Akakievich, a middle-aged man, that works as a government clerk in St. Petersburg. Akaky, whose annual salary of 400 rubles barely allows him to survive, is deeply passionate about his job. He's a recluse, neglects his appearance and never pays attention to what is happening around him. Because of his odd personality and isolated lifestyle, his coworkers constantly make fun of him, but Akaky rarely lets this affect his performance at work.
One day after he notices that his back is hurting, Akaky soon determines that the problem is that his overcoat is so worn out that is not protecting him from the icy winds that blow through the city. He decides to take the item to his tailor, Petrovitch, to see if he can mend it. After some back and forth between the two, Petrovitch tells Akaky that there's no way to patch the coat and that he'll have to buy a new one.
A stamp depicting "The Overcoat", from the souvenir sheet of Russia devoted to the 200th birth anniversary of Nikolai Gogol, 2009 (Via Wikipedia)
Initially, Akaky is taken aback when Petrovitch estimates that a new overcoat will cost around 150 rubles, more than a third of his annual salary. But eventually, he resigns himself to the idea and, paradoxically, discovers that the quest to put aside the money has actually brought a new sense of purpose to his otherwise dull existence. After receiving a higher than expected bonus, along with some money he's been saving, Akaky is finally ready to purchase his new piece of garment.
The day he receives the coat is the happiest of Akaky's life. Sadly, his elation is short-lived as a sudden turn of events ends with the loss of his coat, a devastating illness and ultimately, his own demise. Soon after he dies, Akaky returns as a ghost to haunt those that were cruel to him, in particular, a superintendent that refused to help him when the overcoat was reported lost.
For a story published in 1842, I found the language of The Overcoat surprisingly approachable. Gogol's not so veiled criticism of the Russian political establishment as well as his sardonic depiction of government bureaucrats was particularly delightful.
An engaging, well-written story that can be read in less than an hour. Recommended for those that enjoy classic literature and short stories.
October 14, 2025
"
دعني وشأني ، لماذا تسيء إليًّ؟"
جملة يقولها "أكاكي" في اللحظة التي لا يستطيع فيها التحمل، أو مزيدًا من الألم
فهي ليست مجرد جملة، أو رد من شخص يساء إليه
بل هي صياغةٍ مشوّهةٍ لإحساسٍ لا يُصاغ.. حين يصل الألم معه إلى منتهاه، فيتقيأ حينها الوجع في صورة حروف قد تبدو في صورة هادئة، لكنها في حقيقتها حمم بركانية تفور داخل روحه،فتكون المقاومة من الداخل إلى الخارج
هو سؤالًا لا يفعل أي شئ.. غير أنه يقربه من شرفة الإذلال إلا خطوات، ويُكَيف الوجع على حدود جسده وأضلعه، ليحمي ما تبقى له من روح ونبض، وفي المقابل يُغيب الوقت، ويلغي المسافات، فتتساوى جميع الأشياء في عينه كنسخ مكررة، كالتي يقوم بنسخها كل يوم
أكاكي بمعطفه المهترئ .. هو كل المقهورين في زمن عبثي، هو كل الفقراء المتسكعين فرادى بلا مأوى في ليالي الشتاء القاسية.
المعطف الذي ضاق بجسده فتهلهل، وتلاشى معظم نسيجه كما تلاشىت كرامته وآدميته
وما تبقى منه لا يواري سوءة ولا يمنح إلا دفء كاذب. فظل البطل يلتمس منه الدفء الكاذب، كمتسكع بائس يلتمس الدفء من سحائب الدخان في الشوارع، والمقاهي
"المعطف " كان اختيار عبقري من "جوجول" كرمز، واسقاط، وسخرية من الظلم في عصر روسيا بل
وفي كل العصور
لذا استحقت قصته الدهشة، والإنبهار، والإعجاب من كل من أتوا بعده، وحتى وقتنا هذا
"كلنا خرجنا من معطف جوجول" قالها دوستويفسكي فأصاب المعنى بلا شك،لتصبح أفضل قصة رمزية عبر كل الأزمان.
دعني وشأني ، لماذا تسيء إليًّ؟"
جملة يقولها "أكاكي" في اللحظة التي لا يستطيع فيها التحمل، أو مزيدًا من الألم
فهي ليست مجرد جملة، أو رد من شخص يساء إليه
بل هي صياغةٍ مشوّهةٍ لإحساسٍ لا يُصاغ.. حين يصل الألم معه إلى منتهاه، فيتقيأ حينها الوجع في صورة حروف قد تبدو في صورة هادئة، لكنها في حقيقتها حمم بركانية تفور داخل روحه،فتكون المقاومة من الداخل إلى الخارج
هو سؤالًا لا يفعل أي شئ.. غير أنه يقربه من شرفة الإذلال إلا خطوات، ويُكَيف الوجع على حدود جسده وأضلعه، ليحمي ما تبقى له من روح ونبض، وفي المقابل يُغيب الوقت، ويلغي المسافات، فتتساوى جميع الأشياء في عينه كنسخ مكررة، كالتي يقوم بنسخها كل يوم
أكاكي بمعطفه المهترئ .. هو كل المقهورين في زمن عبثي، هو كل الفقراء المتسكعين فرادى بلا مأوى في ليالي الشتاء القاسية.
المعطف الذي ضاق بجسده فتهلهل، وتلاشى معظم نسيجه كما تلاشىت كرامته وآدميته
وما تبقى منه لا يواري سوءة ولا يمنح إلا دفء كاذب. فظل البطل يلتمس منه الدفء الكاذب، كمتسكع بائس يلتمس الدفء من سحائب الدخان في الشوارع، والمقاهي
"المعطف " كان اختيار عبقري من "جوجول" كرمز، واسقاط، وسخرية من الظلم في عصر روسيا بل
وفي كل العصور
لذا استحقت قصته الدهشة، والإنبهار، والإعجاب من كل من أتوا بعده، وحتى وقتنا هذا
"كلنا خرجنا من معطف جوجول" قالها دوستويفسكي فأصاب المعنى بلا شك،لتصبح أفضل قصة رمزية عبر كل الأزمان.
May 6, 2026
قصة “المعطف” (1842) لنيقولاي جوجول تبدو لأول وهلة حكاية بسيطة عن موظف فقير اسمه أكاكي أكاكيفيتش يشتري معطفًا جديدًا بعد جهد طويل. لكن وراء هذه البساطة يختبئ أحد النصوص المؤسسة للأدب الروسي الحديث.
القصة تُرهق القارئ بمقدمة مطوّلة عن حياة أكاكي الرتيبة وتفاهته. بينما الحدث الأساسي (المعطف) لا يظهر إلا متأخرًا. بعد ذلك تأتي النهاية بسرعة صادمة: سرقة. مرض. موت. شبح. هذا البناء “الغير متوازن” مقصود: جوجول أراد أن يُحاكي حياة بطله نفسها — طويلة في الملل. قصيرة في المجد.
تصرفات أكاكي بعد الحدث المحوري في القصة تبدو غير منطقية: لا يذهب للشرطة فورًا. ثم يقفز مباشرة إلى مسؤولين كبار. هذا الارتباك قد يفقده بعض التعاطف. لكنه يكشف جوهر القصة: إنسان صغير عاجز داخل منظومة بيروقراطية عبثية. جوجول يدمج الواقعي بالسريالي: من الروتين الإداري إلى أحداث غير واقعية. وكأن اللا منطقية ليست ضعفًا في السرد. بل أداة للكشف عن عبثية المجتمع نفسه.
القصة مرآة لروسيا القيصرية حيث البيروقراطية قاتلة. والمسؤولون يتعاملون مع الناس ببرود واحتقار. النهاية حزينة ليس بسبب السرقة فقط. بل بسبب غياب العدالة والنظام الاجتماعي اللا إنساني.
اليوم قد يرى القارئ أن القصة بسيطة أو حتى مليئة بـ”الثغرات”. لكنها في زمنها كانت قفزة هائلة:
• وضعت “الإنسان الصغير” في قلب الأدب.
• كسرت مركزية الأبطال الكبار.
• مزجت المأساة بالكوميديا السوداء.
ولذلك قال دوستويفسكي عبارته الشهيرة:
“كلنا خرجنا من معطف جوجول.”
مقارنة على الهامش:
• جوجول: يكتب العبثي والرمزي. يعرض حياة الإنسان الصغير بمرارة ساخرة.
• دوستويفسكي: يأخذ هذا “الإنسان الصغير” لكن يذهب به إلى عمق فلسفي وروحي. في صراع مع الشر والخطيئة.
• تشيخوف: يرث هذا الخط. لكنه يصوغه بهدوء واقعي. يصوّر الحياة اليومية بكل هشاشتها. بدون أشباح ولا مبالغات.
و في النهاية
“المعطف” ليست مجرد قصة عن قطعة ملابس. بل عن هشاشة الإنسان أمام مجتمع بلا رحمة. قد تبدو عبثية وغير متوازنة. لكنها بهذا بالذات دشّنت أسلوبًا جديدًا جعل من البؤس اليومي موضوعًا أدبيًا. ومن هنا. يظل “المعطف” نصًا مؤسسًا. لا لأنه متقن بلا ثغرات. بل لأنه كان ثوريًا في زمنه.
القصة تُرهق القارئ بمقدمة مطوّلة عن حياة أكاكي الرتيبة وتفاهته. بينما الحدث الأساسي (المعطف) لا يظهر إلا متأخرًا. بعد ذلك تأتي النهاية بسرعة صادمة: سرقة. مرض. موت. شبح. هذا البناء “الغير متوازن” مقصود: جوجول أراد أن يُحاكي حياة بطله نفسها — طويلة في الملل. قصيرة في المجد.
تصرفات أكاكي بعد الحدث المحوري في القصة تبدو غير منطقية: لا يذهب للشرطة فورًا. ثم يقفز مباشرة إلى مسؤولين كبار. هذا الارتباك قد يفقده بعض التعاطف. لكنه يكشف جوهر القصة: إنسان صغير عاجز داخل منظومة بيروقراطية عبثية. جوجول يدمج الواقعي بالسريالي: من الروتين الإداري إلى أحداث غير واقعية. وكأن اللا منطقية ليست ضعفًا في السرد. بل أداة للكشف عن عبثية المجتمع نفسه.
القصة مرآة لروسيا القيصرية حيث البيروقراطية قاتلة. والمسؤولون يتعاملون مع الناس ببرود واحتقار. النهاية حزينة ليس بسبب السرقة فقط. بل بسبب غياب العدالة والنظام الاجتماعي اللا إنساني.
اليوم قد يرى القارئ أن القصة بسيطة أو حتى مليئة بـ”الثغرات”. لكنها في زمنها كانت قفزة هائلة:
• وضعت “الإنسان الصغير” في قلب الأدب.
• كسرت مركزية الأبطال الكبار.
• مزجت المأساة بالكوميديا السوداء.
ولذلك قال دوستويفسكي عبارته الشهيرة:
“كلنا خرجنا من معطف جوجول.”
مقارنة على الهامش:
• جوجول: يكتب العبثي والرمزي. يعرض حياة الإنسان الصغير بمرارة ساخرة.
• دوستويفسكي: يأخذ هذا “الإنسان الصغير” لكن يذهب به إلى عمق فلسفي وروحي. في صراع مع الشر والخطيئة.
• تشيخوف: يرث هذا الخط. لكنه يصوغه بهدوء واقعي. يصوّر الحياة اليومية بكل هشاشتها. بدون أشباح ولا مبالغات.
و في النهاية
“المعطف” ليست مجرد قصة عن قطعة ملابس. بل عن هشاشة الإنسان أمام مجتمع بلا رحمة. قد تبدو عبثية وغير متوازنة. لكنها بهذا بالذات دشّنت أسلوبًا جديدًا جعل من البؤس اليومي موضوعًا أدبيًا. ومن هنا. يظل “المعطف” نصًا مؤسسًا. لا لأنه متقن بلا ثغرات. بل لأنه كان ثوريًا في زمنه.
July 16, 2021
“… and many a time in his life he shuddered to see how much inhumanity there is in man, how much savage coarseness is concealed in refined, cultivated manners, and God! even in a man the world regards as noble and honorable. . .”
Perfection!
The author has hit the nail on the head with this short piece of fiction, as it commenced a new epoch in Russian Realism. Nikolai Gogol, a pioneer in his times, has a distinct writing style, that changes from mockery to tragedy to surrealism to social commentary in a course of a single short story— and this all happens with such deep consciousness and honesty on part of the author that readers feel like flowing with a smooth wave rather being disturbed by it.
The influence of this Short Story on Russian Literature is self-evident from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s remark about Russian realists.
"We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'."
This story, like many great, is simple at heart— as the name evinces, it revolves around an Overcoat, how it’s procured and then lost by its low-rank owner Akakiy Akakievitch (greek: harmless), who in turn stands for all those plebeian souls of the Earth, which come and leave without even stirring a single leaf in this world. “Vanished and gone was the being, protected by no one, dear to no one, interesting to no one, who had not even attracted the attention of a naturalist—”
The Overcoat has many dimensions to it and can be interpreted by marxist and psychoanalytic theories among many others.
Vladimir Nabokov appraised Gogol in thus manner;
“… in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced."
Perfection!
The author has hit the nail on the head with this short piece of fiction, as it commenced a new epoch in Russian Realism. Nikolai Gogol, a pioneer in his times, has a distinct writing style, that changes from mockery to tragedy to surrealism to social commentary in a course of a single short story— and this all happens with such deep consciousness and honesty on part of the author that readers feel like flowing with a smooth wave rather being disturbed by it.
The influence of this Short Story on Russian Literature is self-evident from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s remark about Russian realists.
"We all come out from Gogol's 'Overcoat'."
This story, like many great, is simple at heart— as the name evinces, it revolves around an Overcoat, how it’s procured and then lost by its low-rank owner Akakiy Akakievitch (greek: harmless), who in turn stands for all those plebeian souls of the Earth, which come and leave without even stirring a single leaf in this world. “Vanished and gone was the being, protected by no one, dear to no one, interesting to no one, who had not even attracted the attention of a naturalist—”
The Overcoat has many dimensions to it and can be interpreted by marxist and psychoanalytic theories among many others.
Vladimir Nabokov appraised Gogol in thus manner;
“… in the immortal The Overcoat, he really let himself go and pottered on the brink of his private abyss, he became the greatest artist that Russia has yet produced."
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