THE NOSE, THE OVERCOAT, AND MEMOIRS OF A MADMAN

Edoardo Ballerini splendidly narrates three of the Russian writer Gogol's best-known works. All three display the author's use of the grotesque and surreal. "The Nose" and "The Overcoat" also exhibit Gogol's satire of the Russian bureaucratic hierarchy. Anyone wishing for an entry into Russian literature would do well to listen to these three works. Golden Voice Ballerini has a splendidly smooth American- accented baritone. He delivers the narrative portions of these works clearly and with confidence. The dialogue is done capably, with slight variations for each character. He even does well in trilling his "r's." For "The Nose," he gives the character an appropriately nasal-sounding voice. It's a pleasure to hear all three works given such wonderful narrations. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]