Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

I continued my foray into classic novels with this little gem.  It was a rich satire of Russian life in the 18th century, which includes a wide variety of detailed, lively characters.  Chichikov, the protagonist, spends his life scheming, dreaming and cheating his way through the Russian countryside.

Gogol's characters are richly painted and painstakingly described.  I don't know if it portrays an accurate picture of Russian life, but it surely paints a vivid one.

Gogol seems to be working towards an important message that, although Russian life can be miserable, there remains the possibility of a brighter future for all.  Although Chichikov always chooses the easier, scheming path, he comes closer and closer to a virtuous path as the story progresses.

I read that Gogol planned additional volumes, and that eventually Chichikov would redeem himself, creating a metaphor for Russian society.  Apparently he did write much more than appears in the extant volume, later burning the bulk of the work.

It was an enjoyable read, encouraging me to continue my dalliance with classic fiction, and has whet my appetite for Russian literature.  I've added some Tolstoy to my queue... we'll see what I decide to read next!