Nikolai Gogol Books
One of the great writers of the 19 century, Nikolai Gogol was born and raised in the Poltava Governorate of the Russian Empire. The ambiguities within his subversive, ironic works are matched by those that surround the debate over his nature identity.
Nikolai Gogol was a Ukrainian-born Russian writer, humorist, and dramatist who is considered one of the most important figures in Russian literature. He was born on March 31, 1809, in Sorochyntsi, Ukraine, which was then part of the Russian Empire.
Gogol’s works often combine realism with elements of the fantastic and grotesque, and he is best known for his satirical and often humorous portrayal of Russian society. Some of his most famous works include:
1. “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka” (1831-1832): A collection of short stories that blend Ukrainian folklore with Gogol’s own imaginative storytelling.
2. “Taras Bulba” (1835-1836): A historical novella set in the 16th century, it tells the story of the Cossack leader Taras Bulba and his two sons.
3. “The Nose” (1836): A surreal and comedic short story about a man who wakes up to discover that his nose has gone missing.
4. “Dead Souls” (1842): Gogol’s most famous novel, it follows the adventures of a character named Chichikov as he travels through the Russian countryside attempting to purchase deceased serfs, or “dead souls.”
Gogol’s works had a profound influence on Russian literature, and he played a key role in the development of the realist and absurdist traditions. Despite his success as a writer, Gogol struggled with personal and religious conflicts, and he died at the age of 42 in 1852. His legacy endures, and his works continue to be studied and celebrated in the literary world.
The collection of books presents the palimpsest-like quality of Gogol’s texts and national identity.
Born: March 20, 1809
Died: February 21, 1852
Last Updated: December 10, 2023
Books: 1912 – 1913
Language: Russian, Ukrainian, and English