“The Nose” is a classic example of Gogol’s grotesque surrealism. The story opens with the barber, Ivan Yakovlevitch at breakfast. Things take an odd turn when Yakovlevitch finds a disembodied nose hidden in his bread roll. Yakovlevitch is at pains to rid himself as quickly as he can of the nose, which he recognizes as belonging to one of his clients, Major Kovalev. Kovalev, on the other hand, awakes to find his nose missing and leaves no stone unturned in trying to track the missing organ down … with each twist of the tale, the story gets odder and odder as the nose develops a life and personality of its own.
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"Witty and amusing, also skillfully translated to Romanian (as I read a different edition). Also, probably the shortest book on the 1001 BYMRBYD list(s), which is always a big plus. Quite enjoyable and incredibly easy to go through. Both beginning and end were abrupt, and everything about it was unexpected."
— Roxana (4 out of 5 stars)
" Witty and amusing, also skillfully translated to Romanian (as I read a different edition). Also, probably the shortest book on the 1001 BYMRBYD list(s), which is always a big plus. Quite enjoyable and incredibly easy to go through. Both beginning and end were abrupt, and everything about it was unexpected. "
— Roxana, 2/11/2014" Quite odd, but enjoyable. "
— Camilla, 2/7/2014" Quite odd, but enjoyable. "
— Camilla, 2/7/2014" Very funny and full of irony. "
— Conny, 2/1/2014" Very funny and full of irony. "
— Conny, 2/1/2014" This is the story of a man who wakes up one day to find his nose missing. It's a short story and I can't same much about it without giving things away, but this is certainly one of the weirdest damn stories I've ever read. There were more than a few times when I said "what the hell?" while reading it. "
— Roland, 1/31/2014" This is the story of a man who wakes up one day to find his nose missing. It's a short story and I can't same much about it without giving things away, but this is certainly one of the weirdest damn stories I've ever read. There were more than a few times when I said "what the hell?" while reading it. "
— Roland, 1/31/2014" Wonderfully ridiculous. A very good read, makes very little sense (a nose is running around museums??) but forget that. It is just fantastic, in every sense "
— Luke, 1/28/2014" Wonderfully ridiculous. A very good read, makes very little sense (a nose is running around museums??) but forget that. It is just fantastic, in every sense "
— Luke, 1/28/2014" I LOVE GOGOL!!!!! And this is the book that opened up my world to this genius. It is still my top favorite of his, maybe because it was my first experience into this man beautiful mind or maybe because it is perfectly written...you make the call "
— Mia, 1/14/2014" I LOVE GOGOL!!!!! And this is the book that opened up my world to this genius. It is still my top favorite of his, maybe because it was my first experience into this man beautiful mind or maybe because it is perfectly written...you make the call "
— Mia, 1/14/2014" One of my favorite authors, and his best story, in my opinion. Great fun to read. "
— Sara, 1/12/2014" Absolutely fantastic comedy. A guy wakes up one morning without a nose and Gogol entertains us with infinite possibilities and genius imagination. "
— Angela, 1/12/2014" One of my favorite authors, and his best story, in my opinion. Great fun to read. "
— Sara, 1/12/2014" Absolutely fantastic comedy. A guy wakes up one morning without a nose and Gogol entertains us with infinite possibilities and genius imagination. "
— Angela, 1/12/2014" A bizarre short story about a man who loses his nose. I can only assume it is symbolic and what came to my mind was how easily someone can lose their reputation through idle gossip or malicious rumour mongering. This would particularly apply to politicians and 'celebrities'. Given that it is a nose that goes missing it would be particularly appropriate for the phrasse 'losing face'. Short and sweet. "
— Philip, 12/31/2013" It's just do strange - it was impossible for me not to love it immediately! "
— Donna, 12/31/2013" It's just do strange - it was impossible for me not to love it immediately! "
— Donna, 12/31/2013" A bizarre short story about a man who loses his nose. I can only assume it is symbolic and what came to my mind was how easily someone can lose their reputation through idle gossip or malicious rumour mongering. This would particularly apply to politicians and 'celebrities'. Given that it is a nose that goes missing it would be particularly appropriate for the phrasse 'losing face'. Short and sweet. "
— Philip, 12/31/2013" Odd. Quite odd, indeed. "
— Bonnie, 12/5/2013" Odd. Quite odd, indeed. "
— Bonnie, 12/5/2013" I am a big fan of Kafka so I enjoyed reading this book. I saw a lot of similarities between Gogol and Kafka's writing styles. I recommend it to all Kafka fans as well as those who have never read anything of both these authors. "
— Neda, 11/30/2013" I am a big fan of Kafka so I enjoyed reading this book. I saw a lot of similarities between Gogol and Kafka's writing styles. I recommend it to all Kafka fans as well as those who have never read anything of both these authors. "
— Neda, 11/30/2013" fantastic, hilarious, one of the best short stories i have read. "
— Amit, 10/30/2013" fantastic, hilarious, one of the best short stories i have read. "
— Amit, 10/30/2013" I've never thought that such an "old" short story could make me laugh more than some actual comedy show. "
— Elisa, 10/19/2013" I've never thought that such an "old" short story could make me laugh more than some actual comedy show. "
— Elisa, 10/19/2013" This is, without a doubt, the strangest story I've ever read. Ever. "
— Emily, 6/9/2013" This is, without a doubt, the strangest story I've ever read. Ever. "
— Emily, 6/9/2013" Lunacy at its best!! Absolute nonsense but funny as heck "
— Anuradha, 2/19/2013" Lunacy at its best!! Absolute nonsense but funny as heck "
— Anuradha, 2/19/2013" Gogol was actually one of the first classic Russian authors I read. I found his absurd writings so funny that I was originally convinced I just didn't understand what was going on. What a treat to rediscover him! "
— Michelle, 10/24/2012" Gogol was actually one of the first classic Russian authors I read. I found his absurd writings so funny that I was originally convinced I just didn't understand what was going on. What a treat to rediscover him! "
— Michelle, 10/24/2012" An interesting and humorous, albeit a little ghastly, tale. "
— Momina, 8/13/2012" An interesting and humorous, albeit a little ghastly, tale. "
— Momina, 8/13/2012" Not as good as the Overcoat. Didn't really understand the story but it was funny. "
— Evelina, 5/14/2011" Not as good as the Overcoat. Didn't really understand the story but it was funny. "
— Evelina, 5/14/2011" Perfect selection of his works. I was really really excited to read these. Contains all of the classics that people hear about, as well as some of the other lesser known works. "
— Andrew, 4/26/2011" Perfect selection of his works. I was really really excited to read these. Contains all of the classics that people hear about, as well as some of the other lesser known works. "
— Andrew, 4/26/2011" Not the best translation, but a great overall selection of Gogol's short stories. "
— Kelsey, 4/14/2011" Not the best translation, but a great overall selection of Gogol's short stories. "
— Kelsey, 4/14/2011" Despite valiant efforts, I just am not a fan of Gogol. "
— Marisa, 3/23/2011" Despite valiant efforts, I just am not a fan of Gogol. "
— Marisa, 3/23/2011" Gogol's prose is beautiful and often laugh-out-loud funny. My favorites - The Nose; The Overcoat; Diary of a Madman. "
— Jane, 2/6/2011" Gogol's prose is beautiful and often laugh-out-loud funny. My favorites - The Nose; The Overcoat; Diary of a Madman. "
— Jane, 2/6/2011" Two volumes complete short stories of Gogol for all those who enjoy Gogol "
— Kafkasfriend, 12/13/2010" Two volumes complete short stories of Gogol for all those who enjoy Gogol "
— Kafkasfriend, 12/13/2010" Two volumes complete short stories of Gogol for all those who enjoy Gogol "
— Kafkasfriend, 12/13/2010" Two volumes complete short stories of Gogol for all those who enjoy Gogol "
— Kafkasfriend, 12/13/2010" diary of a madman is hands down my favorite short story "
— Spykuh, 11/22/2010" diary of a madman is hands down my favorite short story "
— Spykuh, 11/22/2010Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852) was a preeminent Ukrainian-born author. He is particularly famous for those stories which veer in the direction of surrealism and the grotesque.
Cathy Dobson is the author of Planet Germany and a narrator of audiobooks.