The Inspector General

The play follows the corrupt officials of a small Russian provincial town who panic when they hear a government inspector is arriving. They mistakenly lavish bribes on a penniless traveler, believing him to be the dreaded official sent from St. Petersburg.

The man mistaken for the inspector is Ivan Alexandrovich Khlestakov, a minor, broke civil servant who is passing through the town. He quickly realizes the officials' error and decides to play along to extort money from them.

Nikolai Gogol wrote the satirical play in 1835, and it was first published in 1836. It premiered in St. Petersburg and was initially misunderstood before becoming a landmark of world theatre.

The play is a biting social satire that exposes the deep-seated political corruption, bribery, and moral decay within the Russian bureaucracy. Gogol famously stated that the true "main character" of the play is the audience's own corrupt conscience.