The Overcoat

The Overcoat was a short story written by Nikolai Gogol, first published in the collected volume of his works in 1842. Gogol's most famous short fiction, it is a savage social satire taken to mark the start of Russian realism. "We all come from under Gogol's Overcoat" is a famous comment ascribed to either Dostoevsky or Turgenev.

Related Topics:
Short story - Nikolai Gogol - 1842 - Realism - Dostoevsky - Turgenev

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The overcoat in question, a shinel, is a Russian uniform greatcoat, worn by all people in official service.

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This is the story of Akaky Akaievich, an impoverished copy-clerk in St Petersburg's government department, who is given no respect from his colleagues because of his old, worn-away clothes. Akaky saves up his money painstakingly to buy himself a magnificent new overcoat, which he values enormously. People seem to applaud him on the surface, but it could be that they are being sarcastic like in Flowers for Algernon. They patronize him, and invite him to an office party. Akaky is not used to partying, so he leaves early and is robbed of his coat on the way home.

Related Topics:
St Petersburg - Flowers for Algernon

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Akaky approaches an important personage for help, but the latter ignores him and gives him a dressing-down. Akaky dies of pneumonia caught from a cold draught in the open. Thereafter Akaky's ghost lives on and steals peoples' coats on the streets, although he disappears after pilfering the important personage's greatcoat. At the story's end it is hinted that Akaky's real robber is still at large.

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