Dead Souls | By Nikolai Gogol | Translated into English | Published by Penguin Classics | Dimensions: 5.08 x 0.87 x 7.8 inches | ISBN-13: 978-0140448078 | Publication Date: December 28, 2004 | Print Length: 464 pages

One of the most unusual works of nineteenth-century fiction and a devastating satire on social hypocrisy, Dead Souls introduces us to the enigmatic Chichikov, a mysterious stranger who arrives in a provincial Russian town. His audacious proposition to purchase the names of dead serfs, still registered on the census, not only saves their owners from paying taxes but also allows him to use these “souls” as collateral for his social ascent. Through this ebullient masterpiece, Gogol creates a grotesque gallery of human types—characters ranging from the bear-like Sobakevich to the insubstantial fool Manilov, and above all, the devilish con man Chichikov.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With over 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics offers a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history across various genres and disciplines. Readers can rely on the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes from distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.