Diary Of A Madman by Nikolai Gogol

The book is a dark and satirical short story presented as a series of diary entries from a low-ranking civil servant who gradually descends into insanity. As he becomes increasingly alienated from society, he develops delusions of grandeur and believes himself to be of noble descent. His madness escalates as he convinces himself that he can understand the conversations of dogs and that he is destined to become the king of Spain. The narrative provides a poignant critique of the bureaucratic world and the protagonist's struggle with his identity and self-importance, reflecting the absurdities and injustices of the society in which he lives.

The 3710th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 104

Since this book was first published in 1835, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 104.0.

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.