List of historical works of Gogol. Fairy tales Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”

As soon as the rather ringing seminary bell, hanging at the gates of the Bratsky Monastery, struck in Kyiv in the morning, schoolchildren and students hurried in crowds from all over the city. Grammarians, rhetoricians, philosophers and theologians, with notebooks under their arms, wandered into the classroom. The grammars were still very small; as they walked, they pushed each other and scolded each other in the thinnest treble; they were all almost all in tattered or soiled dresses, and their pockets were always filled with all sorts of rubbish; somehow: grandmothers, whistles made of feathers, a half-eaten pie, and sometimes even small sparrows, one of which, suddenly chirping in the midst of the extraordinary silence in the class, delivered to his patron a fair amount of fire in both hands, and sometimes even cherry rods. The rhetoricians were more respectable: their dresses were often completely intact, but on the other hand, there was almost always some kind of decoration on the face in the form of a rhetorical trope: either one eye went right under the forehead, or instead of a lip there was a whole bubble, or some other sign; These spoke and swore among themselves in tenor. The philosophers took it a whole octave lower: in their pockets there was nothing except strong tobacco roots. They did not make any reserves and ate everything that came their way; from them one could hear a pipe and a burner sometimes so far away that a passing craftsman would stop for a long time and sniff the air like a hound dog.
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The story of how Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich

IVAN IVANOVICH AND IVAN NIKIFOROVICH

Ivan Ivanovich has a nice bekesha! excellent! And what smiles! Wow, what an abyss! blue with frost! I bet God knows what if anyone has these! Take a look at them, for God’s sake, especially if he starts talking to someone, look from the side: what a gluttony this is! It’s impossible to describe: velvet! silver! fire! Oh my God! Nicholas the Wonderworker, saint of God! Why don’t I have such a bekesha! He sewed it back when Agafia Fedoseevna did not go to Kyiv. Do you know Agafia Fedoseevna? the one who bit off the assessor's ear.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (birth name Yanovsky, from 1821 - Gogol-Yanovsky; March 20, 1809, Sorochintsy, Poltava province - February 21, 1852, Moscow) - Russian prose writer, playwright, poet, critic, publicist, recognized as one of the classics Russian literature. Came from ancient noble family Gogol-Yanovskikh.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is one of the most original Russian writers, his fame went far beyond the borders of Russian cultural space. His books are interesting throughout his life, each time he manages to find new facets in them, almost new content. His life was not replete with external events. She was all in intense work, in deep internal analysis their actions and thoughts. For Gogol, the work of a writer was inextricably fused with the social, educational role of art, and for him it became creative feat. Having revealed “all of Rus'” to the world, first of all its funny, sad, dramatic sides - but not only these, but also heroic ones - prophetically speaking about its wonderful future, Gogol created books that were a true discovery in artistic culture, provided great influence on the development of Russian literature and art in general. Gogol's books actively exist in the spiritual life of our time. Artistic word Gogol is perceived today as prophetic. Gogol is not just a writer, but an exceptional person, tragic fate, thinker and prophet who stood on the threshold of a true solution historical destinies Russia, whose fate in one way or another reflected the fate of literature and social thought of that time. Gogol - the beginning new era in artistic consciousness Russia XIX century.

N.V. Gogol, the great Russian writer, created his own art world, in which several generations of Russian readers have already lived. None of the Russian classics had as many common characters as Gogol. Gogol's Mayor, Khlestakov and Chichikov, Taras Bulba and Akaki Akakievich - all these characters, creative imagination genius prose writer, are perceived by us as historical or really existing personalities.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was born on March 20 (April 1), 1809 in the town of Velikiye Sorochintsy, Mirgorod district, Poltava province (Ukraine).

Gogol's father, Vasily Afanasyevich Yanovsky-Gogol, served at the Little Russian Post Office, from where he retired with the rank of collegiate assessor. Served as secretary distant relative, former minister, district representative of the nobility, D.P. Troshchinsky. Vasily Afanasyevich loved art, he himself wrote poetry and comedies in Ukrainian.

Gogol's mother, Maria Ivanovna, née Kosyarovskaya, was, according to legend, the first beauty in the Poltava region. She came from a family of landowners. She married Yanovsky-Gogol at the age of 14 and gave birth to six children.

According to legend (the information has not been confirmed), the second part of the surname - Gogol - was added to his (Yanovsky) by Nikolai Vasilyevich’s grandfather. This was done to prove the origin of the family from Colonel Ostap Gogol, who became famous in Ukraine in the 17th century.

The Gogol family was very religious, which undoubtedly left its mark on the worldview of the future writer. Special attention spiritual education The mother took care of the children.

1818 - 1819 - Nikolai Gogol, together with his brother Ivan, studied at the Poltava district school.

1820 - 1821 - Gogol takes lessons from Poltava teacher Gabriel Sorochinsky.

1821 – 1828 – studying at the gymnasium of higher sciences in Nizhyn.

The Nizhyn Gymnasium of Higher Sciences was a kind of analogue of the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum; children of provincial nobles studied here. At the gymnasium, Gogol studied music, painting, and participated in theatrical productions. The first ones date back to this time literary experiments Nikolai Vasilievich, who initially worked with different genres: wrote tragedies, elegies, stories. At the same time, the first satire, which has not survived, “Something about Nezhin, or the law is not written for fools,” was written. When the time came to choose a specialty, Nikolai Gogol chose jurisprudence - he wanted to “prevent injustice.” 1828 - 1829 - in December 1828, Gogol goes to St. Petersburg. He failed to get a job. Trying to make money literary work ended unsuccessfully: only two works were published, the poem “Italy” and “idyll in pictures” Hanz Küchelgarten" The latter, published under the pseudonym “V. Alov" caused condescending ridicule from critics. Gogol burns the unsold edition of the book and, disappointed, leaves for Germany (July 1829).

End of 1829 - Nikolai Vasilyevich returns to St. Petersburg. This time, the search for work was successful, and Gogol managed to get a position as a scribe in the department state economy and public buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The service was monotonous and boring, the only outlets were painting and literature classes. Another positive point from the “public service” is that it provided the writer with a wealth of material for future works. 1830 - Gogol’s story “Basavryuk” was first published in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski. Later the story was revised by the author, after which it received the title “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala.” The same year, December - in the almanac “Northern Flowers” ​​(published by Delvig), a chapter from historical novel Gogol "Hetman". The first work published with real name author, became the story “Woman”. After his first publications, Nikolai Vasilyevich was accepted into the circle of St. Petersburg writers. He becomes close to Delvig, Pushkin, Zhukovsky. Lives in Pavlovsk, among other things, carries out assignments for the publication of Pushkin’s “Tales of Belkin”. Critics claim that it was Alexander Sergeevich who gave Gogol the ideas for such works as “The Inspector General” and “ Dead souls" During this period, Gogol earned money by giving private lessons, and soon became a history teacher at the Patriotic Institute.

1831 – 1832 – “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” was written and published. It was this work that brought Gogol real popularity. 1832 - Gogol comes to Moscow already famous writer. He is working on his first comedy, “Vladimir of the 3rd Degree,” but does not finish it. 1834 - Nikolai Vasilyevich strives to work at the department general history at the newly opened Kiev University, but all attempts end in failure. The writer was accepted as an adjunct professor at the Department of General History at St. Petersburg University. Studying the history of his native Ukraine, Gogol develops the idea of ​​the work “Taras Bulba”. Secretly from everyone, he writes stories for the collections “Mirgorod” and “Arabesques”. The same year, “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” was published in the book “Housewarming.” 1835 - Gogol leaves the university to devote himself entirely to literature. In the same year he completed and published the collections “Mirgorod” (including “ Old world landowners", "Viy", "Taras Bulba", etc.), "Arabesques". In addition, in 1835 the "Inspector General" was started. In the same year, 1835, work began on the first volume of the poem “Dead Souls.” The idea, as mentioned above, was given by Pushkin. He became the first to whom Gogol read several chapters. Alexander Sergeevich approved of the writer, but at the same time the poem upset him. January 1836 - at an evening with Zhukovsky, in the presence of Pushkin, Gogol reads “The Inspector General”. April 19, 1836 – premiere of “The Inspector General” at the Alexandrinsky Theater. May 25, 1836 – premiere of “The Inspector General” at the Maly Theater. The first reviews of the comedy were negative. Unfortunately, Nikolai Vasilyevich read exactly them, and after that he no longer had the desire to open others.

The writer goes abroad. The same year - Gogol lives first in Switzerland, then in Paris. All this time he continues to work on " Dead souls" 1837 - Gogol comes to Rome. 1839 - 1840 - Gogol spends several months in Russia. In Moscow and St. Petersburg he reads 6 chapters “ Dead souls" May 1840 - M.Yu. is present at a gala dinner in honor of Nikolai Vasilyevich’s name day. Lermontov, who reads his new poem"Mtsyri". A few days later Gogol leaves for Rome. Along the way he stops in Rome to complete the long-begun drama “For a Shaved Mustache” - a sketch from Zaporozhye history. However, the manuscript was burned. It was in Vienna that Gogol was first overtaken by a severe nervous illness. 1840 - 1841 - work on the first volume of Dead Souls was completed in Rome. October 1841 - Gogol comes to Russia to publish Dead Souls. V.G. helps him. Belinsky. The censorship allowed the poem to pass, but with the condition that for the book edition “The Tale of Captain Kopeikin” should be removed and the name changed.

May 1842 - the book “The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls” was published. Beginning of 1843 - “The Works of Nikolai Gogol” was published in four volumes. Second half of the 1840s - Nikolai Vasilyevich experiences spiritual crisis. It got to the point that the writer doubted the meaning and effectiveness fiction and was ready to renounce his works. End of June 1845 - Gogol burns the manuscript of the second volume of the poem “Dead Souls”. The reason was state of mind writer, to put it modern language, long-term depression. Later, Nikolai Vasilyevich explained his action in the work “Four Letters to to different persons regarding “Dead Souls” - selected places”: in the second volume, “paths and roads” to the ideal were not sufficiently indicated. 1847 - Gogol publishes Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends. Belinsky is extremely dissatisfied with this circumstance, especially the religious and mystical ideas of the writer sounded in “Correspondence...”.

April 1848 - Gogol visits the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, after which he finally returns to Russia. Lives in Odessa, St. Petersburg and Moscow, all this time working on the second volume of Dead Souls. The writer's health is deteriorating. As for spiritual sentiments, mysticism and religion continue to occupy his thoughts. Spring 1850 - Gogol proposes marriage to A. M. Vielgorskaya, but is refused. 1852 - Nikolai Vasilyevich regularly meets and talks with Archpriest Matvey Konstantinovsky, a fanatic and mystic. Night from February 11 to 12, 1852 - Gogol burns the now white manuscript of the second volume of Dead Souls. There is a version that Konstantinovsky persuaded the writer to do this. February 21, 1852 - Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol dies in Moscow. Initially he was buried in the cemetery of the St. Daniel Monastery. In 1931, Gogol's ashes were buried at the Novodevichy cemetery.

Despite the fact that creative life The writer's life was short-lived, and some periods of his life are completely shrouded in mystery; everyone knows the name of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. Having quickly become famous, the young author surprised his contemporaries with his talent. It surprises the current reader as well.

Those fifteen years that the writer devoted to writing showed the world a genius of the highest standard. Distinctive feature- this is versatility and creative evolution. Poetics, associative perception, metaphor, grotesque, intonation diversity, alternation of the comic with the pathetic. Stories, plays, even poems.

Housewarming (1826)

The writer's whole life was full of struggle and internal experiences. Perhaps, while still studying in Nizhyn, the young man felt that he would have many questions about the meaning of life.

There, as a high school student, Kolya wrote a poem for the school handwritten magazine, the title of which is considered to be “Housewarming.” But it is known for sure that in its final form with the author’s autograph it was called “Bad Weather.”

The young poet, already at the age of seventeen, had doubts about the correctness of the title of his poem. The author will carry these doubts about the correctly chosen style, the correctly inserted cue, and even the word, throughout his entire work, mercilessly dealing with texts that, in his opinion, failed.

The young man seemed to prophesy to himself:

Whether it's light or dark - it's all the same,
When there is bad weather in this heart!

In addition to the poem “Housewarming”, Gogol wrote four more poems and the poem “Hanz Küchelgarten”.

Hanz Küchelgarten (1827-1829)

The first publication did not live up to Nikolai's expectations - it was a severe disappointment. The hopes placed on this story were not justified. The romantic idyll in paintings, written back in the Nizhyn gymnasium in 1827, received negative reviews and forced the author to reconsider his creative possibilities.

At this time, Gogol was hiding behind the pseudonym A. Alov. The writer bought all unsold copies and destroyed them. Now Nikolai decided to write about what he knows well - about beautiful Ukraine.

Evenings on a farm near Dikanka (1829-1832)

The book aroused keen interest among readers. Historical excursion in Little Russia, depicting pictures of Ukrainian life, shining with gaiety and subtle humor, made a great impression.

It would be completely logical if the narrator used Ukrainian for your creations. But in Russian, Gogol seemed to erase the line between Little Russia and Great Russia. Ukrainian folklore motives, where the main language is Russian, generously sprinkled in Ukrainian words, made the entire collection of “Evenings” absolutely exquisite, absolutely unlike anything that existed at that time.

The young writer began his work not with clean slate. Even in Nizhyn, he kept a notebook, which he himself called “All sorts of things.” It was a notebook of four hundred and ninety sheets, in which the high school student wrote down everything that seemed interesting to him: historical and geographical information, statements famous writers, proverbs and sayings, legends, songs, customs, own thoughts and writings.

The young man did not stop there. He writes letters to his mother and sisters, and asks them to send him various information on the topic: “the life of the Little Russian people.” He wants to know everything. So it began great job over the book.

“Evenings” had the subtitle: “Stories published by the beekeeper Rudy Panko.” This fictional character. It was needed to give credibility to the stories. The author seems to go into the shadows, passing forward the image of a simple, good-natured, cheerful beekeeper, allowing him to laugh and joke at his fellow villagers. Yes, through stories simple peasant the flavor of Ukrainian life is conveyed. This character seems to wink at the reader, slyly reserving the right to fiction, but passing it off as the honest truth. And all this with a special upbeat intonation.

The differences between fantasy and the writer’s stories are that fairy tales have magical characters, while Gogol’s have religious ones. Everything here is imbued with faith in God and the devil’s power.

The action of all the stories included in the collection is connected with one of the time chronological layers: antiquity, the recent legendary times of Catherine the Great and modernity.

The first readers of “Evenings” were printing workers who, when they saw Gogol visiting them, began to chuckle and assured that his “stuff” was very funny. "So! - thought the writer. “Cherni liked me.”

First book

And then the debut took place. The first book has been published. These are: “Sorochinskaya Fair”, “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”, “Drowning”, “The Missing Letter”.

And it became clear to everyone around - this is Talent! All famous critics unanimously expressed their delight. The writer makes acquaintances in literary circles. He is published by Baron Anton Antonovich Delvig, finds out the opinion of the already recognized critic Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky at that time. Having become friends with Zhukovsky, Nikolai finds himself in the literary and aristocratic circle.

A year has passed and the second part of the collection has been released. The simplicity, diversity, diversity of the nationality spilled out into stories: “The Night Before Christmas,” “ Terrible revenge", "Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and his aunt", "Enchanted Place".

The festive, colorful side also has another side - night, dark, sinful, otherworldly. Truth coexists with lies, irony with seriousness. There was a place and love stories, and unsolved mysteries.

Even at the dawn of cinema, Gogol’s works began to attract directors. At the beginning of the 20th century, the film adaptations of “The Night Before Christmas”, “Terrible Vengeance”, “Viy” were received by the public with “Hurray”, despite the fact that the poetics and imagery of the plot that the narrator so diligently put in disappeared on the screen in silent films in every phrase.

Films based on Gogol's "Evenings" were released later, but "Viy", in fact, is the first Soviet film horror.

Arabesques (1835)

This was the next collection, partly composed of articles published in the years 30-34 of the 19th century, and partly of works published for the first time.

Stories and literary texts included in this collection are little known to the general reader. Here Gogol discussed Russian literature, looked for its place in history, and outlined tasks for it. He talked about art, about Pushkin, as a great national poet, about folk art.

Mirgorod (1835)

This period marked the peak of Gogol’s fame, and all his works included in the collection “Mirgorod” only confirmed the author’s genius.

For the editors, the collection was divided into two books, two stories in each.

Taras Bulba

After the release of Taras Bulba, Belinsky immediately declared that it was “a poem of great passions.”

Indeed: war, murder, revenge, betrayal. In this story there was also a place for love, so strong that the hero is ready to give everything for: his comrades, his father, his homeland, his life.

The narrator has created such a plot that it is impossible to unambiguously evaluate the actions of the main characters. Taras Bulba, so eager for war, eventually loses two sons and dies himself. The betrayal of Andriy, who fell in love with a beautiful Polish girl and was ready to do anything for the sake of this fatal passion.

Old world landowners

This work was not understood by many. Few people saw in the story about the old married couple love story. That love that is not expressed by stormy confessions, vows or betrayals with a tragic end.

The simple life of old landowners who cannot live without each other, because they are one whole in this life - this is what the narrator tried to convey to the reader.

But the public, having understood the story in their own way, nevertheless expressed approval.

Contemporaries of Nikolai Vasilyevich were surprised to meet the Old Slavic pagan character. This character does not exist in Ukrainian folk tales; Gogol “brought” him from the depths of history. And the character took root, frightening the reader with his dangerous gaze.

The story has a colossal semantic load. All the main action takes place in the church, where there is a struggle between good and evil, faith and unbelief.

The ending is sad. Evil spirits have won main character died. Here's something to think about. Man did not have enough faith to be saved.

The story of how Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich

This is the final work of the collection “Mirgorod”, in which all the passions are ironic.

Human nature in the person of two landowners, who, out of nothing to do, started a long-term lawsuit, is shown from all sides, exposing their worst traits. The elite secular society is shown in the most unsightly pictures: stupidity, stupidity, stupidity.

And the ending: “It’s boring in this world, gentlemen!” - food for deep philosophical reasoning.

Notes of a Madman (1835)

The first title of the story is “Scraps from the Notes of a Madman.”

This story of madness, in Gogol's style, had no analogues. Here Nikolai Vasilyevich added a good dose of pity to his wit and originality.

The hero did not suffer in vain. In this strange grotesque, many saw both the poetry of words and the philosophy of thought.

Nevsky Prospekt (1835)

The writer lived in St. Petersburg for many years and he simply could not help but describe the place that was central in the lives of many citizens.

What happens on Nevsky Prospekt. And the narrator, as if making Nevsky Prospekt the main character, shows his life using the example of two characters, completely randomly snatched from the crowd.

The Inspector General (1835)

An immortal play that brought Nikolai Vasilyevich enormous fame. He created the most vivid, authentic images of provincial bureaucracy, embezzlement, bribery and stupidity.

It is believed that the idea of ​​this play was born in Pushkin’s head, but the elaboration of the plot and the creation of the characters’ characters are all the merit of Gogol. Behind the farce and naturalism lies a philosophical subtext, because behind the impostor there is a punishment for the officials of the county town.

It was not possible to get the play staged right away. It was up to the emperor himself to convince him that the play was not dangerous, that it was simply a mockery of bad provincial officials.

Comedy The Morning of a Business Man (1836)

Initially, the work was conceived as a large work, which was to be called “Vladimir of the Third Degree,” and “Morning” is only part of the big idea.

But according to various reasons, including due to censorship, will take place great work it was not fate. There is too much “salt, anger, laughter” in the comedy. Even the initial title “Morning of an Official” was replaced by the censor with “Morning business man».

The remaining manuscripts of the failed great work were revised and used by Gogol in other works.

Litigation (1836)

An unfinished comedy - part of the play "Vladimir of the Third Degree". Despite the fact that “Vladimir” fell apart and did not take place, and “Litigation” remained unfinished, individual scenes received the right to life and were staged in the theater during the author’s lifetime.

Excerpt (1839-1840)

The first title is "Scenes from social life" - dramatic passage. He was not destined to see the light of day - that’s what the censorship decided.

Nikolai Vasilievich included this excerpt in “ Dramatic passages and separate scenes" in its publication in 1842.

Lakeyskaya (1839-1840)

Another dramatic excerpt from the failed play “Vladimir of the Third Degree,” independently published in “The Works of Nikolai Gogol” in 1842.

Nose (1841-1842)

The absurd satirical work was not understood. The Moscow Observer magazine refused to publish it, accusing the writer of stupidity and vulgarity. But Pushkin found a lot of unexpected, funny and original things in it, publishing it in his Sovremennik magazine.

True, there was some censorship, which cut out entire pieces of text. But the image of an empty, ambitious man striving for status and admiration for higher ranks was a success.

Dead Souls (1835-1841)

This is the most fundamental creation, with a difficult fate. The planned three-volume book could not see the light of day, in the version that Nikolai Vasilyevich wanted - hell, purgatory, heaven (as many philologists believe).

In 1842, the first volume, strictly edited by censorship, was published. But the semantic load remained. The reader could see everything: temptation, evil, dynamic beginning. And recognize the devil in the one who buys souls - in Chichikov. And all the landowners are a whole gallery of different types, each of which personifies some property of human character.

The book received a decent rating. Its translation into other languages ​​began already in 1844, and very soon it could be read in German, Czech, English, and Polish. During the author's lifetime, the book was translated into ten languages.

The ideas for the third volume remained ideas. The writer collected materials for this volume, but did not have time to use them.

Theatrical tour after the presentation of a new comedy (1836-1841)

The writer spent his entire life searching for true feelings, sorting out spiritual qualities, put a certain philosophy into his creations.

Essentially, “Theatrical Travel” is a play about a play. And the conclusion suggests itself. The number of jesters that society needs is disproportionate to various types of acquisitiveness and the desire for profit. “There are many opinions, but no one understood the main thing,” the author complains.

Overcoat (1839-1841)

It is believed that this story was born from an anecdote. Mixing compassion with irritation, Akaki Akakievich suddenly came out. And sad funny story about the little insignificant person suddenly turned out to be interesting.

And after laughing at Gogol’s character, the time comes to think about whether there is a biblical meaning to this story. After all, the soul wants to love only what is beautiful, but people are so imperfect. But Christ calls everyone to be kind and meek. In Greek, “one who does no evil” is Akakios. So we get Akaki Akakievich, a soft and vulnerable image.

“The Overcoat” was understood in different ways, but fell in love. She found her place in cinema. The film “The Overcoat,” released in 1926 and enthusiastically received by the public, was banned by censorship in 1949. But on the 150th anniversary of the writer’s birth it was removed new movie“The Overcoat” directed by Alexey Batalov.

Portrait (1842)

In the first part, the writer touches on the attitude of others towards art, criticizing monotony and short-sightedness. The author condemns the deception on the canvases, which is so popular with the public, calling for service to real art.

In the second part, Gogol dug even deeper. Explaining that the purpose of art is to serve God. Without insight, the artist simply makes soulless copies, and in this case, the triumph of evil over good is inevitable.

The story was criticized for being too preachy.

Play Marriage (1842)

Play with full name“Marriage, or an Absolutely Incredible Event in Two Acts” was written back in 1835, and was called “Grooms”.

But Nikolai Vasilyevich made adjustments for another eight years, and when, finally, the play was staged, many did not understand it. Even the actors themselves did not understand what they were playing.

But time put everything in its place. The idea that marriage is a union of two souls, and not a search for an illusory ideal, has been forcing audiences to go to this performance for many years, and directors to stage it on different stages.

Comedy Players (1842)

IN Tsarist Russia topic gambling was in the air. It was touched upon by many writers. Nikolai Vasilyevich also expressed his vision on this matter.

The writer got it so twisted plot story, flavoring everything with chic turns of phrase, including slang expressions gamblers that the comedy has turned into a real intricate matrix, where all the heroes pretend to be someone else.

The comedy was an immediate success. It is still relevant today.

Rome (1842)

This is not independent work, but an excerpt from the unfinished novel “Annunziata”. This passage quite clearly characterizes the author’s evolution in creativity, but it did not receive a worthy assessment.

Selected passages from correspondence with friends (1845)

A mental crisis pushes the writer to religious and philosophical themes. The fruit of this work was the publication of the collection “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends.”

This work, written in an edifying and preaching style, caused a storm among critics. In all literary circles there were debates and excerpts from this book were read.

The passions were serious. Vissarion Grigorievich Belinsky wrote critique in the form open letter. But the letter was banned from publication, and it began to be distributed in manuscript. It is for the distribution of this letter to death penalty Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was sentenced. True, the “death penalty by shooting” did not happen; the sentence was commuted to punishment in the form of hard labor.

Gogol explained the attacks against the book as his mistake, believing that the chosen edifying tone ruined everything. And those passages that were initially not allowed through by censorship finally ruined the material presented.

All the works of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol are pages of amazing beauty of the Russian word, when reading you are happy and proud that you can speak and think in the same language.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a classic, known to each of us from school times. This brilliant writer and a talented publicist, in whose work interest continues to this day. In this article we will turn to what Gogol managed to write during his short life. The list of the author’s works inspires respect, let’s consider it in more detail.

About creativity

The entire work of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is a single inextricable whole, united by the same themes, motives and ideas. Lively, bright style, unique style, knowledge of the characters found among the Russian people - this is what Gogol is so famous for. The list of the author’s works is very diverse: there are sketches from the life of farmers, and descriptions of landowners with their vices, the characters of serfs are widely represented, the life of the capital and the county town is shown. Truly, Gogol describes the whole picture of Russian reality of his time, without making distinctions between classes and geographical location.

Gogol: list of works

Let us list the main works of the writer. For convenience, the stories are combined into cycles:

• the cycle “Mirgorod”, which includes the story “Taras Bulba”;
• "Petersburg Tales" includes the story "The Overcoat";
• the cycle “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”, which includes one of Gogol’s most famous works - “The Night Before Christmas”;
• play "The Inspector General";
• the “Arabesques” cycle, which stands out strikingly from everything written by the author, as it combines journalism and artistry;
• poem "Dead Souls".

Now let's look at it in more detail key works in the writer's work.

Cycle “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”

This cycle became Nikolai Vasilyevich and was published in two parts. The first was published in 1831, and the second only a year later.

The stories in this collection describe stories from the life of farmers that occurred in different time periods, for example, the action of “May Night” takes place in the 18th century, and “Terrible Vengeance” - in the 17th century. All works are united by the image of a storyteller - Uncle Foma Grigorievich, who retells stories he once heard.

Most famous story This cycle is "The Night Before Christmas", written in 1830. Its actions take place during the reign of Catherine II in Ukraine, in the village of Dikanka. The story is entirely based on romantic tradition with its mystical elements and extraordinary situations.

"Inspector"

This play is considered the most famous work Gogol. This is due to the fact that from the moment it was first staged in the theater (1836), it has not gone away to this day. theatrical stage not only in our country, but also abroad. This work became a reflection of vices, arbitrariness and limitations county officials. This is exactly how Gogol saw provincial towns. It is impossible to compile a list of the author's works without mentioning this play.

Despite the social and moral implications and criticism of autocracy, which are clearly visible under the guise of humor, the play was not banned either during the author’s lifetime or later. And its success can be explained by the fact that Gogol managed to unusually accurately and accurately portray the vicious representatives of his time, who, unfortunately, are still encountered today.

"Petersburg Tales"

Gogol's stories included in this collection were written in different times- from about 30's to 40's years XIX century. What unites them is their common place of action - St. Petersburg. The uniqueness of this collection lies in the fact that all the stories included in it are written in the spirit of fantastic realism. It was Gogol who managed to develop this method and so brilliantly implement it in his cycle.

What is this? This is a method that allows you to use the techniques of the grotesque and fantasy in depicting reality, while maintaining the relevance and recognition of images. So, despite the absurdity of what is happening, the reader easily recognizes in the image of the fictional Petersburg the features of the real Northern Palmyra.

In addition, one way or another, the hero of each work in the cycle is the city itself. Petersburg, in Gogol’s view, acts as a force that destroys man. This destruction can occur on a physical or spiritual level. A person can die, lose his individuality and turn into a simple man in the street.

"Overcoat"

This work is included in the collection “Petersburg Tales”. At the center of the story this time is Akakiy Akakievich Bashmachkin, a minor official. About life and dreams " little man"N.V. Gogol tells in this work. The overcoat is the ultimate desire of the protagonist. But gradually this thing grows, becomes larger than the character himself and ultimately consumes him.

A certain mystical connection is formed between Bashmachkin and the overcoat. The hero seems to give part of his soul to this piece of clothing. That is why Akakiy Akakievich dies a few days after the disappearance of the overcoat. After all, along with her, he lost a part of himself.

The main problem of the story is the harmful dependence of people on things. The subject has become the determining factor in judging a person, and not his personality - that’s the horror surrounding reality, according to Gogol.

Poem "Dead Souls"

Initially, according to the author's plan, the poem was supposed to be divided into three parts. The first describes a kind of “hell” of reality. In the second - “purgatory”, when the hero had to realize his sins and take the path of repentance. In the third - “paradise”, the rebirth of the character.

At the center of the story is the former customs official Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov. This gentleman dreamed of only one thing all his life - to earn a fortune. And now, in order to fulfill his dream, he embarked on an adventure. Its meaning was to buy up dead peasants who were listed as alive according to the last census. Having obtained a certain number of such souls, he could borrow a decent amount from the state and go with it somewhere to warmer climes.

The first and single volume"Dead Souls".

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol-Yanovsky; Russian Empire, Poltava province; 03/20/1809 – 02/21/1852

The great Russian prose writer and playwright Nikolai Gogol earned recognition during his lifetime. But N. V. Gogol’s stories and stories are still very popular today. Many of his works have been filmed, and the name of this writer has become iconic for Russian and world literature. Best of all proof is the author’s high place in our ranking, where N. V. Gogol is in the top twenty.

Biography of N.V. Gogol

Nikolai Gogol-Yanovsky was born in the village of Bolshiye Sorochintsy, Poltava province. Subsequently, he will drop the second part of his surname, although it was under this surname that his great-grandfather lived. My great-grandfather changed his surname after accepting Russian citizenship. There were 11 children in Gogol's family, but only five of them lived to adulthood. Nikolai himself was the third child, but the first to survive. Thanks to this, he best remembered his father, who wrote short plays for home performances and was generally a wonderful storyteller. In part, it was he who instilled in N. V. Gogol his first love for the theater.

At the age of ten, Nikolai was sent to study in Poltava. First, he takes preparatory courses from one of the local teachers, and then enters the Gymnasium of Higher Sciences. Since this educational institution just formed educational process was not established very well, perhaps this was the reason for Gogol’s low academic performance. But at the same time, having created circles of like-minded people, the students engaged in self-education and even organized their own magazine. It was during his self-education that Nikolai Gogol fell in love with creativity, which later played a significant role in his works.

After graduating from high school at the age of nineteen, Nikolai Gogol moved to St. Petersburg. His modest savings are not enough to live in big city, and he is forced to look for work, either as an actor or as a civil servant, but he does not stay in one of them for long. At the same time, in 1829, N. V. Gogol’s first poem, “Hanz Küchelgarten,” was published. She doesn't get recognition for a long time inspires the writer with distrust in his capabilities. However, the writer does not stop in his endeavors and a year later “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” was published, which was received more positively.

In 1830, thanks to friends, N. V. Gogol managed to find a job as a teacher, first at the Patriotic Institute, and then at the department of history at St. Petersburg University. This significantly improved the author’s financial affairs and allowed him to plunge headlong into literature. It was during this period that N. V. Gogol’s stories “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” and “The Night Before Christmas” were published, which are still popular to read today. This brings fame to the author and allows him to become one of the leading writers in Russia at that time. From 1834 to 1842 such famous works N V Gogol as “Taras Bulba”, “The Inspector General”, “Dead Souls” and many others.

Since 1836, Gogol has spent a lot of time abroad. His second “homeland” becomes Rome, which the author himself called “a city in spirit.” At the same time, the writer becomes more and more religious and makes a journey to the Holy Sepulcher. But, according to the author himself, when he got caught in the rain in Palestine, he felt the same way as the stations in Russia. That's why peace of mind this trip did not bring N V to Gogol. Upon his return in 1949, he worked hard on the second volume of Dead Souls, but just before his death he destroyed them.

Gogol was buried in the cemetery of the Danilov Monastery, but subsequently the remains were transferred to Novodevichy Cemetery. In 1952, the pedestal of the monument was changed, and “Calvary,” which had previously served as a monument to Gogol, was subsequently acquired by his wife as a monument to her husband. After all, it was N. V. Gogol’s story that Bulgakov considered a model for his work.

Works by N. V. Gogol on the Top books website

In the ratings of our site, N. V. Gogol’s stories are represented quite widely. Many of them are in our ranking and occupy far from the lowest positions there. At the same time, the popularity of N. V. Gogol’s comedies “The Inspector General,” “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka,” and “The Night Before Christmas” is so great that it allowed these and some other works of N. V. Gogol to be included in our rating. At the same time, many of them occupy quite high places in this ranking and have every chance to strengthen their positions.

All books by Gogol N.V.

1. Author's confession
2. Al-Mamun
3. Alfred
4. Annunziata
5. Articles from Arabesques
6. The evening before Ivan Kupala
7. Evenings on a farm near Dikanka
8. A look at the composition of Little Russia
9. Vladimir third degree
10. Hanz Küchelgarten
11. Getman
12. Chablova girls
13. The rain continued...
14. Marriage
15. Notes of a Madman
16. Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and his aunt
17. Players
18. Italy
19. Stroller
20. Lakeyskaya