Nikolaj Vasiljevič Gogolj

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1809–1852), a Russian writer of Ukrainian origin, is one of the key writers of the 19th century, known for his satire, grotesque, and mixture of realism and fantasy. Born in Sorochintsy, Ukraine, to a family of lesser nobility, Gogol was educated in Nezhin, where he developed an interest in literature and theater. Moving to Saint Petersburg in 1828, he worked as a clerk, but devoted himself to writing.

His first significant works, the short story collections Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka (1831–1832), incorporate Ukrainian folk motifs with elements of fantasy. This was followed by the collections Mirgorod (1835) and Arabian Tales, which include stories such as Taras Bulba and The Nose, known for their humor and social criticism. The novel Dead Souls (1842) is his masterpiece, a satire on the corruption and moral decay of imperial Russia. The comedy The Inspector General (1836) satirizes bureaucracy and greed, becoming a classic of Russian theater.

Gogol later fell into a spiritual crisis, influenced by religious beliefs, and burned the manuscripts of the second part of Dead Souls. His last work, Selected Excerpts from Correspondence with Friends (1847), caused controversy due to its conservative views. He died in Moscow in 1852, tormented by illness and fasting.