sams84 's review for:

Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

4.0

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This is a surprisingly humorous read that follows Chichikov, a middle aged gentleman who tours through the Russian countryside buying the rights of deceased serfs from the landowners. He gives the impression that he is doing them an immense favour when really he is out for his gains, although it doesn't necessarily work out all that well for him. Each of the landowners that he speaks to are caricatures of the greed, corruption and paranoia that Gogol implies is deep seated in the Russian government. The second half of the book finds Chichikov moving to another part of the countryside and leaving his dead souls behind where he tries to help another landowner gain favour with a General so he can marry the General's daughter. Once again Chichikov moves from estate to estate meeting many odd and eccentric characters before getting himself into hot water again. Although the second part finishes mid sentence it doesn't feel too unfinished and this seems to add to Chichikov's character of being able to escape by the skin of his teeth. A rather readable and entertaining book.