Diary of a Madman (novel)

Diary of a Madman is a farcical short story by Nikolai Gogol. The tale centres on the life of a minor civil servant during the repressive era of Nicholas I. It recounts the hero's struggle to be noticed by the woman he loved. His diary records his gradual slide into insanity, where he finally achieves the greatness that has eluded him in real life and imagines that he is the king of Spain.

Related Topics:
Nikolai Gogol - Nicholas I

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The story satirises petty officialdom, and has been interpreted by some as going beyond this to being an allegory about the political state of Russia at the time, revealing Gogol's view of the government from the standpoint of a lowly citizen.

Related Topics:
Allegory - Russia

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