Čičikovljeve pustolovine ili Mrtve duše

Nikolai Gogol's novel Dead Souls tells the story of Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov, a resourceful and cunning official who travels the Russian provinces with an unusual plan. He buys "dead souls" from landowners, that is, serfs who have died since the last state census but are still listed as alive in the official books. Since the owners still have to pay taxes on them, they are happy to sell them for a symbolic amount.

Chichikov intends to pretend to own a large number of serfs in order to gain wealth, reputation and the possibility of obtaining favorable loans. On his journey, he meets various landowners, from naive and dreamy to greedy and rude, and each of them represents a certain human flaw.

Through their characters, Gogol depicts the corruption, hypocrisy, greed and moral decay of Russian society. At first, Chichikov is well received in the city, but when rumors spread about his shady dealings, confusion arises and he has to flee.

Although the novel remained unfinished, its main feature is its sharp social criticism. The title "Dead Souls" refers not only to the deceased serfs but also to people who have lost their honesty, compassion, and moral values.