The Nose is a short story by Russian author Nikolai Gogol, first published in 1836. It tells the story of a St. Petersburg official whose nose leaves his face and develops a life of its own. The story begins with the protagonist, Major Kovalyov, waking up one morning to discover that his nose is missing. He searches everywhere for it, but to no avail. He eventually discovers that his nose has taken on a life of its own and is now living as a high-ranking official. Kovalyov attempts to reclaim his nose, but is unsuccessful. He eventually turns to the police for help, but they are unable to locate it. In a desperate attempt to find his nose, Kovalyov disguises himself as a barber and follows the nose around town. The story ends with Kovalyov finally reclaiming his nose, but not before it has caused him a great deal of embarrassment and humiliation. The story is a satire of the bureaucracy and social hierarchy of 19th century Russia.
By Nikolai Gogol · First published 1836 · Genre: Absurdist Fiction, Satire, Magical Realism · 3 chapters