From the Wall Street Journal, of all damn places. Murdoch owns them, but at least they still print serious book reviews. While I suspect Russians might take some issue with this—not the “vast and barbarous country” part (Russians are rightly proud of the fact) but rather the critic’s assertion that Dostoevsky, Gogol, and company “mysteriously” emerged from that country—the essay is a good piece a’ read. It’s the length of a cup of coffee, too. There is no Kafka without Gogol. Good Saturday, everyone.