One story leads to another

If you've read The Namesake (or seen the movie) you know that the main character is named Gogol because his father is in a train wreck while reading Nikolai Gogol's The Overcoat. This sparked some interest in me to read the Russian author's work since I had not heard of Gogol before. Last winter while at my parent's house I discovered on a bookshelf the Progress Russian Classics Series - Nikolai Gogol A Selection which includes the short story The Overcoat, in this edition it is called The Greatcoat. The book includes seven short stories and a play by Gogol. I usually think of Russian authors as heavy reading but this book is quite the opposite. The stories are satirical and provide snapshots of 19th century Russia that border on the absurd. The earlier stories reflect more the Ukranian folktale of Gogol's youth while the later works delve into the social contradiction of life in St. Petersburg where Gogol lived and wrote as an adult.

The stories themselves were enthralling reading but what I like best about this book is that it is part of the Progress Russian Classics Series. The Progress books were Russian works translated by Russian writers into English. This non-native English allows the book to maintain the feel of the original Russian writing. On the very last page of the book is a "request to readers" to write to the publishing company at 17 Zubovsky Boulevard, Moscow with any opinions of the book, its design, or ideas for future publications. The introduction is written by Professor Sergei Mashinsky, Doctor of Philology and is a work of art itself. The introduction's last lines sum up the collection of Gogol's work perfectly:

These works are a pure font of poetry. Drinking of it the reader absorbs noble moral ideas and in the process he too becomes a purer and better person.