Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Gogol published *Dead Souls* in 1842, describing it not as a mere novel but as an epic poem in prose. The work arrives from a specific moment in…
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Nikolai Gogol published *Dead Souls* in 1842, describing it not as a mere novel but as an epic poem in prose. The work arrives from a specific moment in Imperial Russia, where bureaucratic inertia allowed for the peculiar trade of purchasing deceased serfs. These individuals, still listed in tax registers, became the currency for Pavel Chichikov’s ambitious financial scheme. Yet the title carries a deeper resonance, pointing toward the spiritual stagnation that Gogol observed in the provincial aristocracy. The narrative unfolds as a journey through a landscape defined by eccentric landowners and petty officials, each embodying a distinct form of moral vacancy. As you listen and follow the text, notice how Gogol blends sharp satire with lyrical digressions. The narrator frequently breaks from the plot to address the reader directly, inviting reflection on broader themes of national character and redemption. This polyphonic style creates a unique reading experience, one that shifts between absurd comedy and profound melancholy. The work remains unfinished in its second part, yet the existing text stands as a monumental critique of human vanity.
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Public domain & narration
Dead Souls was first published in 1842. Works first published before 1931 are in the public domain in the United States, so the text is free to read, share and adapt. This English edition is the translation by C. J. Hogarth. The edition shown here comes from Project Gutenberg, which publishes only books that are in the US public domain.
The narration is the LibriVox recording read by 15 volunteer readers, including Anna Simon, Euan Bayliss and Kalynda. LibriVox volunteers dedicate their recordings to the public domain.
Ion Books adds the synchronized scrolling text and video, so you can read along while you listen, for free.
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Chapters
- Chapter 1: Introduction by John Cournos, and Author's Preface (25:39) · watch
- Part I, Chapter I (37:00) · watch
- Part I, Chapter II - Section 1 (25:07) · watch
- Part I, Chapter II - Section 2 (38:10) · watch
- Part I, Chapter III - Section 1 (29:38) · watch
- Part I, Chapter III - Section 2 (28:19) · watch
- Part I, Chapter IV - Section 1 (29:05) · watch
- Part I, Chapter IV - Section 2 (39:52) · watch
- Part I, Chapter V - Section 1 (23:49) · watch
- Part I, Chapter V - Section 2 (38:33)
- Part I, Chapter VI (34:54)
- Part I, Chapter VII - Section 1 (17:37)
- Part I, Chapter VII - Section 2 (30:18)
- Part I, Chapter VIII (42:55)
- Part I, Chapter IX (26:13)
- Part I, Chapter X (29:22)
- Part I, Chapter XI - Section 1 (44:28)
- Part I, Chapter XI - Section 2 (40:04)
- Part II, Chapter I - Section 1 (38:12)
- Part II, Chapter I - Section 2 (33:05)
- Part II, Chapter II (13:57)
- Part II, Chapter III - Section 1 (52:09)
- Part II, Chapter III - Section 2 (43:23)
- Part II, Chapter IV - Section 1 (41:31)
- Part II, Chapter IV - Section 2 (33:36)
- Part II, Chapter IV - Section 3 (22:28)
- Part II, Chapter IV - Section 4 (24:39)
Full text
This work is too long to show on one page. Read it on Project Gutenberg · download ebook.txt