The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories
The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Brief
BetaThe Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2006330
Play • Fiction
Russia • 19th Century
2006
Adult
15-18 years
Super Short Summary
The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories by Robert A. Maguire, Nikolai Gogol, and Ronald Wilks presents a collection of Gogol's works. It includes the satirical play The Government Inspector, the novella The Diary of a Madman, and other significant short stories such as "The Overcoat" and "Nevsky Prospect," exploring themes of bureaucracy, social injustice, and psychological struggle.
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories by Robert A. Maguire, Nikolai Gogol, and Ronald Wilks showcases Gogol's talent for blending dark humor with social critique. Reviewers praise the vivid characterizations and satirical edge, though some find the translation uneven and challenging. The stories capture the absurdity of bureaucracy and human folly with sharp wit.
Who Should Read The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories?
A reader who enjoys The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories by Robert A. Maguire, Nikolai Gogol, and Ronald Wilks is likely a fan of satirical and surreal literature. Comparable to fans of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis or Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, they appreciate dark humor and social criticism through vivid storytelling.
21,497 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Nikolai Gogol's influential style in "The Diary of a Madman" and "The Government Inspector" plays a significant role in the development of Russian literature, inspiring later writers like Dostoevsky and Kafka.
Robert A. Maguire is known for his critical introductions and annotations in Russian literature, providing insightful context to Gogol's works for English-speaking audiences.
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Ronald Wilks, a translator of Russian classics, has brought not only Gogol's surreal storytelling to life but also the satirical depth of 19th-century Russian society through his translations.
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330
Play • Fiction
Russia • 19th Century
2006
Adult
15-18 years
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