Der Mantel: Eine Novelle

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gogol, Nikolai Vasilevich, 1809-1852

Contributor:

Kassner, Rudolf, 1873-1959

Language:

German

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Der Mantel: Eine Novelle" by Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol is a poignant short story written in the early 19th century. This narrative explores the mundane life of a low-ranking government clerk in St. Petersburg, focusing on themes of identity, social status, and the human condition. The novella provides a critical commentary on the bureaucratic society of its time. The story revolves around Akaki Akakiewitsch Bashmachkin, an unremarkable and impoverished clerk who dedicates his life to copying documents. He endures the derision of his colleagues, who mock him for his worn-out coat, affectionately dubbed "the mantle." As he finally saves enough money to purchase a new overcoat, he revels in the joy it brings him, gaining newfound confidence and respect. However, his joy is short-lived; he is robbed of the coat one night, leading to a series of despairing events. In his pursuit of help, he is met with indifference and disdain from the authorities, which ultimately results in his untimely demise, reflecting the harsh realities of life for the lower classes in Tsarist Russia. The story concludes with a haunting twist, as Akaki's ghost seeks to reclaim his lost mantle, symbolizing his struggle in a world that has marginalized him. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Jana Srna, Norbert H. Langkau and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 73.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Release date is 2009-02-03