Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol
The narrative centers on a meek and downtrodden government clerk living in St. Petersburg, whose life is consumed by the desire to replace his threadbare overcoat. After much sacrifice, he finally acquires a new overcoat, which momentarily elevates his social standing and brings him brief joy. However, his triumph is short-lived as the overcoat is stolen, plunging him back into misery. The clerk's desperate attempts to recover his lost garment ultimately lead to his untimely death, and his ghost is said to haunt the city, searching for the stolen overcoat, in a tale that intertwines the tragic with the absurd, and critiques the indifference of society to the plight of its less fortunate members.
The 2730th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1842
- Nationality
- Russian
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 60-70
- Original Language
- Russian
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.3)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Shinel
- The Cloak
- The Cloak By Nikolai Gogol
- The Greatcoat
- The Overcoat
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 2 lists:
- 19th on The Main Works of Russian literature (Polka Academy)
- 762nd on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)