Join us for a regular meeting of our reading group. We chose Gogol’s short stories, particularly focusing our discussion on “The Overcoat” published in 1842 (also sometimes translated as “The Great Overcoat” or “The Coat”). As a another choice (instead of or as well as “The Overcoat”), you can read Chekhov’s story “The Death of a Civil Servant” published in 1883 (also translated as “The Death of a Government Official”). The meeting will be hosted by our engagement curator Alisa Oleva.

Gogol and Chekhov are both known for their satirical short stories, which range from the comically absurd to the melancholy and moving (often in the same story!). These two stories look at Russian bureaucracy in all of its strangeness, examining its dehumanising power and the “little men” who keep it going.

2021 saw the opening of Pushkin House’s very own physical bookshop in addition to our online store. While it is still being honed and developed, we are keen to highlight literature that inspires, encourages, moves and validates our readers. We also want to amplify the voices, writers and readers that historically didn’t get and, perhaps, still don’t get the visibility, power and appreciation they deserve. Most of all, we want to create a physical (and an online) place for connection where people can come and share their views.