The Gamblers and Marriage
By Nicolay Gogol; Translated by Isaac Levine from the Russian; Edited with a New Preface by Colin Heston.
What happens when confidence becomes deception—and when courtship becomes panic?
In these two enduring comic masterpieces, Nikolai Gogol exposes the weaknesses, ambitions, and absurdities that continue to shape human behavior nearly two centuries after they were written.
In The Gamblers, a professional card sharp believes himself the cleverest man in the room. Skilled in deception and confident in his ability to outwit anyone he meets, he eagerly pursues what appears to be the opportunity of a lifetime. But Gogol's brilliant comedy of fraud, greed, and manipulation reveals an uncomfortable truth: those who think themselves impossible to deceive are often the easiest victims.
In Marriage, a timid bachelor finds himself pursued toward the altar by an energetic friend, an impatient matchmaker, and a bewildering collection of social expectations. As rival suitors compete for the hand of the eligible Agafya Tikhonovna, confusion, hesitation, and comic chaos multiply. The result is one of the funniest examinations of courtship ever written, culminating in one of the most famous comic endings in world theatre.
Presented here in lively modern English, this edition updates the classic 1927 translation to make Gogol's wit, satire, and unforgettable characters accessible to contemporary readers while preserving the spirit and dramatic power of the original works.
Sharp, humorous, and surprisingly modern, The Gamblers and Marriage remains a brilliant portrait of human folly, exposing the eternal temptations of greed, vanity, self-deception, and fear of commitment.
For readers who enjoy classic comedy, social satire, and timeless observations of human nature, these two masterpieces demonstrate why Gogol remains one of the greatest comic writers in world literature.
This edition includes:
A new Preface by Colin Heston
Modernized adaptations of both plays
Editorial corrections and updated language
Complete texts of The Gamblers and Marriage
An accessible introduction to Gogol's enduring comic genius
Laugh at the characters if you wish—but be prepared to recognize something of yourself in them.
Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 203 p.