Nicolas Gogol is one of Russian literature's major representatives. Considered as the creator of "fantastic" literature, in 1835 he published a collection of novels (Mirgorod) from wich is extracted the "Journal d'un Fou" (Diary of a mad man). This novel depicts the growth of madness in a little office worker wo builds up the world of his dreams to escape from his true disappointing world. Can he then keep the control of his imagination? Read in French by famous actor Jean Topart. Recorded for the National Radio in 1956.