A Place Bewitched and Other Stories (riverrun editions): A beautiful new edition of Gogol's short fiction, translated by Constance Garnett

by Nikolai Gogol

A wounded solider vanishes into notoriety.A nose is found in a loaf of bread.Places - like the Nevesky Prospect - are not what they seem. Nikolai Gogol was one of the nineteenth century's greatest and most influential Russian writers, a realist whose witty and acerbic observations and his taste for the absurd give his writing its strange, comic voice. Selected from the work of Constance Garnett, one of Gogol's earliest translators, this edition presents a new, exclusive collection of Gogol's short fiction, selected and lightly revised by Natasha Randall. Contextualized by Randall's preface, and full of the wit of Garenett's work, this edition is the perfect introduction to Gogol, and a must for the enthusiast.

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Russian Literature, Fiction

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2018

About the author

People 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 .

Reviews

[Sam Meis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed most of these stories. There is something very Kafkaesque about them. Gogol’s prose are very casually written. His characterization is magnificent, the depth he is able to go into even in the shortest of his stories is remarkable. Some stories were a little lacking which has led me to take off half a star, but overall very a entertaining and enjoyable read.

[Katie Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge Russian lit nerd I was happy with some of these stories. They feature lots of classic themes of the genre at the time: idealized views of the countryside, long-winded descriptions of almost everything, existential gloom, and overly dramatic men in love with a woman they only just saw on the street.

Gogol is a master of glorifying the absurd and mundane, and I appreciate how innovative this would have been at the time. But some stories were way too drawn out making it hard to focus. I don’t mind this kind of endless description in a long epic like Anna Karenina, but with shorter stories I prefer if things are quick and snappy.

Highlights: A Madman’s Diary, The Overcoat, Old-world Landowners, The Nose

[Sonia Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gogol is one of favorite storytellers. His short stories are more like legends, in which the world and it’s norms should never be taken for granted. There is a deep, evil force in these stories. He often calls it the devil at work, but often, it seems to be just as much the meaningless class rankings or the rampant alcoholism that leads to a disastrous punch line. My favorite story in this collection might be the overcoat. I’ve read it a couple times, including parts in Russian, and it’s not only hilarious and ironic but an interesting commentary on the power of materialism. Plus, it features the legendary first-person narrator that Gogol is so darn good at.

[Alyssa Ocampo ✮⋆˙ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First dive into Russian literature 🤭 Honestly, the stories were silly to the point where I couldn’t take them seriously at times. I know some of
them were sad, but I always felt the undertone of
the prose not taking itself seriously which I enjoyed. I’m not sure if it’s because of the translation but otherwise, I read them for the vibes. “The Nose” was a personal favorite.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place Bewitched and Other Stories is a weird, whimsical collection that feels like stepping into a surreal dream. Gogol’s mix of dark humor, folklore, and satire makes even the strangest stories oddly charming. Not every piece hits the same, but the overall vibe is unforgettable. It’s quirky, creepy, and a lot of fun to read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are often funny. Gogolis quite different from other Russian writers.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.1 - I like gogol’s short stories better than his novels

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Overcoat" and "Old-World Landowners" were my favorite.
Really funny, lots of nose stuff.
This is sort of the appetizer for the 2 volume Complete Tales which I look forward to getting into.

[Melinda FROELICH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorites were Nevsky Prospect and the melancholy Old World Landowners, which seemed to me initially gentle and buccolic but becomes a biting satire.

[Cheri Zhou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly, hee hee ha ha book

[Sal Lanzillotti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of stories Google makes mundane things seem entertaining.