Books: The Literary Life

Vandalism. Because it believes that Dead Souls is too gloomy a title to sell one of the funniest books ever written, the Readers Club has just published its improved translation of Nikolai Gogol's great satirical novel with what it considers an improved title: Chichicov's Journeys; or, Home Life in Old Russia.

Meanwhile the British radio reports that the Nazis have sacked Gogol's birthplace in Sorotchinsky, Russia (several months ago they were reported to have destroyed Tolstoy's home at Yasnaya Polyana). The house, a Gogol museum for many years, was wrecked, valuable books and...

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