Major Kovalev, a Petersburg official, wakes up one morning to find that his nose is gone and a smooth patch remains in its place. He then sees the nose walking around the city dressed as a state councillor, outranking him. He tries to place a newspaper advertisement and to ask the police for help, and finally the nose is returned and fixed back on his face, without explanation. Gogol uses the absurd premise to mock rank, vanity and bureaucratic ambition.
This short satire is for readers who like surreal humor and want an early example of the absurd in Russian literature. It takes under an hour to read. The ending offers a mock explanation that only deepens the joke, so it also works well for discussion groups who enjoy debating what Gogol meant.
Deep, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1836
- Language
- EN
