At barely 100 pages for just four short stories, I have probably taken more time to figure out what I wanted to say about this book, than I did to read it. First, given that the stories were written the better part of two centuries ago, the translation made the narrative very modern in style. In reading the first two stories, "Old-Fashioned Farmers" (a.k.a., "The Old World Landowners"), and "The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarrelled with Ivan Nikiforovich," my sense was that they were a sort of adult fairy tale. Grimms' Fairy Tales came to mind, but, as I said, in adult form, and perhaps I never read enough of them and when I did was so long ago, that my memory has distorted how I see them now. In both cases, I found the stories had levels of depth and poignancy that elevated them above the average, certainly for the time they were written. The later two stories, and probably the better known ones, were "The Nose" and "The Overcoat." for those two, Washington Irving's fictional works came to mind. Again, maybe my memory of what I read so very long ago has distorted how I recall them, but, regardless, a headless horseman and a nose dressed as an officer must link together in some way at least. Right? Oh, well, decide for yourself if this collection of stories is worth your while. Personally, I doubt anyone glued to their smartphone will take the time. The stories are neither high tech nor trendy. The fact that they might be good isn't really the point, is it? ( )

Quando se fala desse livro, a conhecida frase de Dostoiévski não pode ser evitada: "Todos nós viemos de O Capote". ( )

If subsequent Russian greats claimed to have built on Gogol, I find that they did indeed progress beyond him. The 4 stories in this collection hold the readers interest and they seem consistently tight, but Ivan Ivanovich is no Ivan Ilyich. The Overcoat, the title work for this collection was the best of the 4. Character development was perfect and the ending intriguing. Two of the oother stories were entertaining, though anti-climactic. The Nose was a complete disappointment. The quality of writing is there but the concept was completely absurd and the author's stepping out of voice at the end explained rather than saved it. What I enjoyed most about Gogol was his ability to paint a scene through partial strokes of character and scenery details. I also enjoyed how he often directly states that no more needs to be said about certain minor characters. ( )

I was dubious when first assigned to read this, but I learned to enjoy Gogol's work. His stories are fun, often funny, and whimsical without being frivolous. Through Gogol I developed a better appreciation for Russian literature -- there's more to it than 'Crime and Punishment'. I rated this book at 2 stars, because some stories included were less enjoyable than others. ( )

This story is catching. Initially it is simply a sad little tale of a little man, the kind of man who is in no way noteworthy, who spends his days as a clerk and his evenings at home in a modest room. It is bleakly Russian, with descriptions of the bitter chill of a St. Petersburg winter, the hautiness of recently promoted officials, the destitution and meaningless suffering of a character who has done no wrong. And yet this story is not serious, really. I mean, in some ways it is serious, but it does not follow the typical moralistic cliches, does not make out the poverty-stricken clerk to be in Dickensian misery, or morally reprobate, or alternately a heroic individual. He's simply a little man. But when his coat is stolen, and you've seen how he scrimped and scraped just to be able to afford it, and he dies an ignoble death of the fever because of the loss of his coat, you cannot help but feel pity. He is a pitiful character.

If the story ended here it would be a simple story, not quite as maudlin as the Little Match Girl, or the Gift of the Magi. In fact, it wouldn't be particularly memorable. But the story continues, with Arkaky (our stricken "hero") rising from the dead to steal coats from passersby. And even so, it is not told in a haunting, frightening, creepy way, but rather as a fitting and just answer to the injustices of his life. This story is not exactly serious and not exactly funny, though it is both in places. It is real without being gritty and true without being moralistic. It is quite simply satisfying. That's the only word that truly fits.