Russian Roulette in the Library: MIRGOROD
Mirgorod
Written by Nikolai Gogol
Illustrated by
When you're in the library with no specific book in mind, you just browse around and pick out books that look appealing or simply are able to catch one's attention in the midst of all the other spines - many battered, few new and some obliterated. That's how Mirgorod is in my hands now, for a brief 28 days in its life of more than 60 years. I admit that it is impossible for me to not judge a book by its cover. Mirgorod is beyond beautiful! It feels so amazing to be holding it, running my fingers on the hardbound cover enclosed in a rough fabric with a lovely geometric cum floral pattern (even the librarian couldn't resist touching it again!). It only gets better with the font style and the ink illustrations inside. Only two colours on the slightly acidic paper and it is one masterpiece of a book, a piece of art - without even considering the actual story.
I could go on and on like a smitten lover who describes only the looks of his love without dwelling on her personality (like Bassanio does in The Merchant of Venice regarding Portia) but I'll stop here.
Mirgorod is a collection of short stories written by Nikolai Gogol in Russian. It was first published in 1835. The copy I read is borrowed from the TNAU Library and has been available on loan from 1-2-1966! It was published by the Foreign Languages Publishing House MOSCOW. I observed that there are a lot of USSR/Soviet-related books in the library nearly in all sections from geography to fiction and I decided to dip into fiction first. Thus:
Amazed to know that something so cool exists!
There are four stories in this book. Here I describe each one of them a little bit, but I can't give away too much in case you decide to read it!
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| An illustration in the book; also me running away with the book if given half the chance! |
Old-time Landowners
Heart-warming when you have it, heart-wrenching when it's gone - that's the aura of this story and of the main characters, an old landowning couple. They actually reminded me of the lovely old people I have met and the places I have had to leave behind.
Nothing lasts forever.
Taras Bulba
It is striking how Gogol writes each character's emotions in depth - you feel like you have known the Cossacks who lived centuries ago all your life! But after a point, I got sick of all the unnecessary blood and gore in this lengthy story.
Many things fade, but some things last.
Viy
This is the most thrilling read of this book! It starts in a rather boring way but soon turns into a rollercoaster ride. I have always avoided horror but this is some terrific horror.
You can't predict.
The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich
I feel every character in this satire to the core, such is its quality. Apparently this is one of the stories that brought Gogol wide fame.
You did have the power to change things.
All four stories, no exception, had an unexpected and hard-hitting twist, sometimes more than one. You can find Mirgorod in the second floor in the heart of the library, and perhaps give it a read once you've gotten over how beautiful the book is!
