Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852) was a Russian author and playwright who is considered to be one of the pioneers of Russian literature. He was a master of satire, irony, and dark comedy and earned the lasting respect of writers like Pushkin and Dostoevsky. His works are often considered to be Social Realist classics, but he also wrote comedic plays, short stories, and novellas.

Gogol was born on the Ukrainian Steppes in Vasilki (now Gogolevo). His mother was an educated woman who wanted her son to receive a good education but Gogol had an unpredictable and lively character, which led to him being kicked out of college. His lack of education shaped his Bohemian-style lifestyle and encouraged him to travel throughout Europe. He became captivated by the culture and literature of the West and composed numerous stories in both Russian and Ukrainian.

Gogol’s early works were often misconstrued and were criticized for their lack of structure. Gogol was alienated due to his irreverent humor and biting satire, which tended to offend people. His most famous work, Dead Souls, was published in 1842–1853 and highlighted a complex network of characters and satirical takes on Russian society. It examined the prevalence of corruption and is seen as an early example of Social Realism in Russian literature.

Gogol’s other works are also considered classic texts in the Russian literary canon. His novella The Overcoat, which was published in 1833, is seen as an early instance of realism and is widely interpreted as a comment on the bleakness of Russian society. His play The Government Inspector (1836) is considered to be one of the greatest Russian plays and portrays a classic town that is plagued by corruption and greed.

Gogol’s writing was influenced not only by Russian culture, but also by his travels and exposure to western literature. He was heavily influenced by Cervantes, Voltaire, Dickens, and other masters of satire. He blended these influences with traditional Russian culture, producing archetypal Russian works in the process.

Gogol’s career culminated in the mid-1840s when his writing matured and he began to focus on more serious topics. He wrote Taras Bulba (1840-1881), which combined social criticism with dazzling descriptions of the Ukrainian Steppe, and 2 volumes of Selected Passages From Correspondence with Friends (1847), which looked at the nature of friendship in harrowing detail.

Gogol died in 1852 due to complications from tuberculosis, leaving behind numerous stories and plays that remain relevant today. His wit, realism, and black humor are still admired and continue to permeate Russian literature. Gogol rivaled Pushkin and is considered one of the greatest authors of Russian literature.