Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol

The narrative centers on a meek and downtrodden government clerk living in St. Petersburg, whose life is consumed by the desire to replace his threadbare overcoat. After much sacrifice, he finally acquires a new overcoat, which momentarily elevates his social standing and brings him brief joy. However, his triumph is short-lived as the overcoat is stolen, plunging him back into misery. The clerk's desperate attempts to recover his lost garment ultimately lead to his untimely death, and his ghost is said to haunt the city, searching for the stolen overcoat, in a tale that intertwines the tragic with the absurd, and critiques the indifference of society to the plight of its less fortunate members.

The 1931st greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 195

Since this book was first published in 1842, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 195.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.