The Inspector-General
The Inspector-General, first performed in Saint Petersburg in 1836, is Nikolai Gogol's comedy of provincial corruption. The officials of a small Russian town, led by the Mayor, learn that a government inspector is coming incognito, and in their panic they mistake Khlestakov, a penniless young clerk stranded at the local inn, for the dreaded visitor. Khlestakov quickly grasps the advantage, accepts their bribes, flirts with the Mayor's wife and daughter and boasts outrageously, while the town humiliates itself before him. Gogol's satire spares no one, and its famous final tableau has lost none of its force. This translation is by Thomas Seltzer. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Inspector-General
The Inspector-General by Nikolai Gogol can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Inspector-General online?
Yes. The Inspector-General opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Inspector-General free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Inspector-General is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Inspector-General in the public domain?
Yes. The Inspector-General by Nikolai Gogol is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Thomas Seltzer. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Inspector-General?
About 1 h 58 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Inspector-General?
The Inspector-General by Nikolai Gogol is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
