Diary of a Madman

In his unusual work, Gogol explores the theme of madness and that fragile line separating normal consciousness from derangement. In this classic story of Russian absurdity, deep human drama and comic surrealism intertwine: the suffering of the soul and letters between two room dogs, as well as the tragedy of meaningless existence and symbols of Spain’s royal house. The tale is presented as diary entries by Akcenty Ivanovich Poprishchin, a minor clerk from St. Petersburg whose monotonous and humiliating life changes after falling in love with the chief’s daughter. Gradually, the entries lose their logic, and the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur, driving the protagonist toward madness. Maxim Sukhanov has always been fascinated by the depth and layered nature of this work and masterfully brings to life the tragic and, at the same time, comic story of the “little man” who loses touch with reality in the audio version. Performer: Maxim Sukhanov. Illustration: Sergey Pritchin. Recorded by Audio Publishing House VIMBO. Producers: Vadim Bukh, Mikhail Litvakov.