This is a superb translation of a superb classic. I really enjoyed reading Gogol's short stories He is not only a very gifted playwright but also a very gifted short story writer. A must-read for all lovers of the European classics.

Nikolai Gogol's The Nose and Other Stories, translated by Susanne Fusso, provides readers with short stories that probe the depths of Gogol's imagination, offering tales that combine the profound and the entertaining. 

Comprised of nine imaginative stories, the collection moves at varying paces through a variety of broad scenarios that narrow their focus and address similar basic topics surrounding bureaucratic systems and crowds in cities; some of the stories, such as The Nose or Diary of a Madman, were far more interesting and quickly paced than others within these pages. In general, the writing is incredibly descriptive, perhaps overly so at times that drags down the momentum, as it takes time and effort to flesh out the minutely detailed backgrounds of characters, which typically isn't necessary for understanding the overall plot of the stories offered. The stories that incorporated a larger dose of magical realism were immensely more entertaining and I found them to be easier to connect with and read. My favorite of the bunch, by far, was the titular The Nose as it offered an absurd premise and effortlessly maintained my interest throughout. I was frustrated by the use of end notes as my personal preference is for footnotes, especially for asides that provide greater context for a concept presented - I'm far less likely to flip to the end (particularly in a digital file) than I am to look at the bottom of a page.

Overall, I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

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!!

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

This is a compilation of nine short stories by Nikolai Gogol, of which many delve into the genre of magical realism/urban fantasy.

While there were some short stories I found quite endearing and quirky (Diary of a Madman, The Carriage, and The Nose), I largely felt that I'm not a reader who can appreciate Gogol's writing.

I noticed that Gogol enjoys giving us much context and character background when crafting out his stories, even going so far as to expand on his side characters in some of them. His writing is also extremely descriptive; he carefully crafts out a specific scene he has in mind that he wants readers to envision. While some may enjoy being completely immersed in the sights and sounds of old Russia (which I did like and appreciate sometimes), the writing itself felt a little dry to me and I found myself spacing out at times, especially while I was reading Rome (A Fragment). That one's definitely my least favourite of them all.

In short, I'd think Gogol's writing is generally a 'hit-or-miss' type. If you're someone who loves descriptive writing and blends of magical realism with a sprinkle of some darker gothic elements, then I'd highly recommend you check this out! If you're more like me: someone who prefers less rambliness and more straightforwardness, then it's probably better if you zoom in on some of his works in particular instead of reading all of them (I'd rec The Nose; it's kind of ridiculous, which is why I like it!).

Thank you to Columbia University Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

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.