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The Overcoat - A Review

 




15.2 of 2021
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'The Overcoat' by Nikolai Gogol - If you have read my last review, then you would know from where this Short Story came into the picture. Dostoevsky might believe that "We all came out of Gogol's 'Overcoat'", but Gogol's Overcoat came to me out of Ashoke's life story. 
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Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin is a poor Copying Clerk, but depsite his low-paid conditions and a lukewarm social life, he is a happy man. Happy until one day, he finds that his Overcoat has worn out beyond repair and now, he would need to buy a new one - something that will burn a hole in his impoverished pocket. What happens after that is.. What I won't tell you!! (Nobody likes a spoiler-bomber :p) But the point to be noted is that this way of story telling, the event lineup and presentation is unique to Russian Literature. And that is why, we may read stories from around the world, but we return to Russian Authors in the doldrums of white, freezing post-Christmas Mornings - Russian Lit. and Stephen King (Call me weird). On a different note, has anybody watched 'Chekhov ki Duniya' on Doordarshan?! Pure Art. Do check out. 
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With so many interpretations and nested Symbolism (Strong urge to re-read Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis after this), I will come back to this book again and again. 
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Also, one more thing - All the Civil Servants should read this. ALL. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON MY FEED/BLOG/FRIEND LIST. It has a very important message for all of us - hard hitting, but crucial.
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Rating? I refuse to rate something held in awe by Chekhov, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. Just Read It! And yes, do share your views.
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#anamsreview #anamslibrary #nerdfest #theovercoat #nikolaigogol #gogol #russianliterature

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