A collection of classic stories, many of them of a fantastical nature, all of them with a farcical and fatalistic bent.

The nine stories here collected have been newly translated from the Russian, and include some of Nikolai Gogol's most famous stories (Diary Of A Madman, The Overcoat and the titular The Nose). Gogol wrote these stories between 1831 and 1842, which I feel is immediately noticeable in the pacing (much like older films, older literature 'moves' slower, which isn't necessarily a good or a bad thing, more an observation).

Gogol tends to start a story from a great distance - he'll describe in great detail a scene, or a location, all the kinds of people, their thoughts and worries. Then he'll zoom in on one or more particular characters and the actual story begins. This is not the end of his eye for details, it just becomes wonderfully focused.

The overall effect on the stories is that they become quite tongue-in-cheek, farcical almost. There is also a general feeling of laissez-faire, a constant melancholy sense of "what can you do?" (or "..and so it goes", as Kurt Vonnegut would say). The world is chaotic, you have little control over your circumstances, and the rest is controlled by obnoxious little career men.

Now and then Gogol's eye for details became overwhelming for me, as if he couldn't make a choice who he was interested in, so he described everyone and everything.

It is important to note this edition is strengthened with a set of very informative footnotes by the translator, Susanne Fusso. It gives insight into her translating choices, and provides background and context to the stories.

The collection is a wonderful witty look at old world Russia through one man's eyes. Recommended.

It's unusual to find a literary anthology (that are not mysteries) from over 100 years ago. These are a little uneven in quality, but the author is well regarded for his longer works. This may best for speculative fiction and even scifi fans. Those seeking straight literary fiction should probably move on.

Thanks very much for the review copy!!

I adored Gogol's Dead Souls when I read it a few years ago, but I'd never gotten around to picking up any of his other works, so of course I requested this short story collection straightaway when I saw it on NetGalley. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I appreciated Gogol's clever blend of reality with the fantastical, particularly in the earlier tales, and all the stories were imaginative and memorable in their own way. The translation reads smoothly, without any jarring, and the collection provided me with two nights' pleasant, easy reading. I had great fun with these stories and recommend them to fans of short stories with a hint of magical realism and those who enjoy the Russian classics. 4.5 stars.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.