| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Diary of a Madman (Bank of Montreal Stratford Festival) |  | |
Diary of a Madman (Bank of Montreal Stratford Festival)
Illuminates the Russian writer's thoughts on madness, bureaucracy, and illusion in these five tales.
Manufacturer: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Audio)
Price Range: $10.10 - $15.95
 Diary of a Madman (Bank of Montreal Stratford Festival)
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| User Reviews |  | Excellent book
rating: 4
This book was a great, quick read. Highly recommended if you are a fan of classic literature and / or short stories.
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Just as Advertised
rating: 5
The book is in great condition. It was just as they advertised. I would buy from them again.
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Classic Russian Literature
rating: 5
Unfortuntely, many Americans are still unfamiliar with some of the great works that were penned behind the iron curtain. I only became familiar with Gogol through references in the work of Philip Roth. After all, great writers should give their due to their predecessors. Five of Gogol's most celebrated short stories are included in this collection. While I can only classify myself as a fan of three of these stories, this collection is still worth purchasing.
"The Diary of a Madman" harkens Kafka-esque images of man versus isolation and the bureaucracy in the story of one man's sometimes humorous spiral into madness. Scorned in love and work, the main character retreats into an alternate reality. "The Nose", the story of a runaway body part, possesses elements of Kafka's "Metamorphisis". A fiction that borders on absurdity can still be frightening. It brings to mind that the superficial image one presents in society is too important. "The Overcoat", having themes of superficiality and prized possessions, is a peculiar tale. Taunted by his co-workers for the condition of his overcoat, the main character makes many sacrifices to replace his coat. To a point, the new overcoat becomes more of an obsession than it should.
While "The Carriage" and "Taras Bulba" are also included in the set, I do not believe they carry the same feeling as the other stories. To a degree, "Taras Bubla" almost seemed out of place in the set. The collection of short stories is enjoyable and highly recommended to lovers of literature. It brings the thought to mind of what other works of literature were hidden from American eyes by communism.
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Translation is an act of interpretation
rating: 5
I translated the title story and two others in this collection for my students because none of the existing translations did Gogol justice--they ignored his sound play and sometimes simply altered or even eliminated things that didn't make sense. Gogol's stories are weird and hilarious--I tried to preserve the elements of language that make them brilliant.
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A nice change of pace
rating: 3
Modern American readers will probably find a lot of distance between themselves and Gogol, who writes with an observational comedy about the world he sees around him. But since the themes are timeless, his work will be pleasing, and often very funny, to most discerning readers.
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Diary of a Madman (Bank of Montreal Stratford Festival)
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