Gogol's works in chronological order. Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: list of works, description and reviews

14.04.2019

Years of life: from 03/20/1809 to 02/21/1852

Outstanding Russian writer, playwright, poet, critic, publicist. The works are included in the classics of domestic and world literature. Gogol's works had and still have a huge influence on writers and readers.

Childhood and youth

Born in the town of Velikie Sorochintsy, Mirgorod district, Poltava province, in the family of a landowner. The writer's father, V. A. Gogol-Yanovsky (1777-1825), served at the Little Russian Post Office, in 1805 he retired with the rank of collegiate assessor and married M. I. Kosyarovskaya (1791-1868), according to legend, the first beauty in the Poltava region. The family had six children: in addition to Nikolai, son Ivan (died in 1819), daughters Marya (1811-1844), Anna (1821-1893), Lisa (1823-1864) and Olga (1825-1907). Gogol spent his childhood years on the estate of his parents Vasilyevka (another name is Yanovshchina). As a child, Gogol wrote poetry. The mother showed great concern for the religious education of her son, and it is her influence that is attributed to the religious and mystical orientation of the writer’s worldview. In 1818-19, Gogol, together with his brother Ivan, studied at the Poltava district school, and then, in 1820-1821, took private lessons. In May 1821 he entered the gymnasium of higher sciences in Nizhyn. Here he is engaged in painting, participates in performances - as a decorative artist and as an actor. Tries himself in various literary genres(writes elegiac poems, tragedies, historical poem, story). At the same time he writes the satire “Something about Nezhin, or the law is not written for fools” (not preserved). However, he does not think about a literary career; all his aspirations are connected with “public service”; he dreams of a legal career.

The beginning of a literary career, rapprochement with A.S. Pushkin.

After graduating from high school in 1828, Gogol went to St. Petersburg. Experiencing financial difficulties, unsuccessfully fussing about a place, Gogol made his first literary attempts: at the beginning of 1829 the poem “Italy” appeared, and in the spring of the same year, under the pseudonym “V. Alov”, Gogol published the “idyll in pictures” “Ganz Küchelgarten”. The poem evoked very negative reviews from critics, which increased the difficult mood of Gogol, who throughout his life experienced criticism of his works very painfully. In July 1829, he burned unsold copies of the book and suddenly committed short trip abroad. Gogol explained his step as an escape from a love feeling that unexpectedly took possession of him. At the end of 1829, he managed to decide to serve in the department of state economy and public buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (first as a scribe, then as an assistant to the chief clerk). His stay in the offices caused Gogol deep disappointment in the “public service,” but it provided him with rich material for future works. By this time, Gogol was devoting more and more time to literary work. Following the first story “Bisavryuk, or the Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” (1830), Gogol published a series works of art and articles. The story "Woman" (1831) was the first work signed real name author. Gogol meets P. A. Pletnev. Until the end of his life, Pushkin remained an indisputable authority for Gogol both in art and in morally. By the summer of 1831, his relations with Pushkin's circle became quite close. Gogol’s financial position is strengthened thanks to his pedagogical work: he gives private lessons in the houses of P.I. Balabin, N.M. Longinov, A.V. Vasilchikov, and from March 1831 became a history teacher at the Patriotic Institute.

The most fruitful period of life

During this period, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” (1831-1832) was published. They aroused almost universal admiration and made Gogol famous. 1833, the year for Gogol, was one of the most intense, full of painful searches for a further path. Gogol writes his first comedy, “Vladimir of the 3rd Degree,” however, experiencing creative difficulties and foreseeing censorship complications, he stops working. During this period, he was seized by a serious craving for the study of history - Ukrainian and world. Gogol is busy occupying the department general history at the newly opened Kiev University, but to no avail. In June 1834, however, he was appointed an associate professor in the department of general history at St. Petersburg University, but after conducting several classes he left this job. At the same time, in deep secret, he wrote the stories that made up his two subsequent collections - “Mirgorod” and “Arabesques”. Their harbinger was “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” (first published in the book “Housewarming” in 1834). The publication of “Arabesque” (1835) and “Mirgorod” (1835) confirmed Gogol’s reputation as outstanding writer. The work on the works that later formed the cycle “Petersburg Tales” also dates back to the early thirties. In the fall of 1835, Gogol began writing “The Inspector General,” the plot of which (as Gogol himself claimed) was suggested by Pushkin; the work progressed so successfully that on January 18, 1836, he read the comedy at an evening with Zhukovsky, and in the same year the play was staged. Along with the resounding success, the comedy also caused a number of critical reviews, the authors of which accused Gogol of slandering Russia. The controversy that erupted had an adverse effect on state of mind writer. In June 1836, Gogol left St. Petersburg for Germany and the writer’s almost 12-year period of stay abroad began. Gogol begins to write " Dead souls". The plot was also suggested by Pushkin (this is known from the words of Gogol). In February 1837, in the midst of work on " Dead souls", Gogol receives the shocking news of Pushkin's death. In a fit of "inexpressible melancholy" and bitterness, Gogol feels the "present work" as the poet's "sacred testament." At the beginning of March 1837, he comes to Rome for the first time, which later became one of the writer's favorite cities. In September 1839, Gogol arrived in Moscow and began reading the chapters of “Dead Souls,” which evoked an enthusiastic reaction. In 1940, Gogol left Russia again and at the end of the summer of 1840 in Vienna, he suddenly suffered from one of the first attacks of a severe nervous illness. October he comes to Moscow and reads the last 5 chapters of “Dead Souls” in the Aksakovs’ house. However, in Moscow censorship did not allow the novel to be published and in January 1842 the writer forwarded the manuscript to the St. Petersburg Censorship Committee, where the book was approved, but with or without a change in the title. "Tales of Captain Kopeikin." In May, "The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls"were published. And again Gogol's work caused a flurry of the most controversial responses. Against the background of general admiration, sharp accusations of caricature, farce, and slander were heard. All this controversy took place in the absence of Gogol, who went abroad in June 1842, where the writer was working on 2- m volume of "Dead Souls". Writing is extremely difficult, with long stops.

Last years of life. Creative and spiritual crisis of the writer.

At the beginning of 1845, Gogol showed signs of a new mental crisis. A period of treatment and moving from one resort to another begins. At the end of June or early July 1845, in a state of sharp exacerbation of the disease, Gogol burns the manuscript of the 2nd volume. Subsequently, Gogol explained this step by the fact that the book did not show the “paths and roads” to the ideal clearly enough. An improvement in Gogol’s physical condition began only in the fall of 1845; he began work anew on the second volume of the book, however, experiencing increasing difficulties, gets distracted by other things. In 1847, “Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends” was published in St. Petersburg. The release of Selected Places brought a real critical storm upon its author. Moreover, Gogol also received critical reviews from his friends, V.G. was especially harsh. Belinsky. Gogol takes criticism very seriously, tries to justify himself, deepens his spiritual crisis. In 1848 Gogol returned to Russia and lived in Moscow. In 1849-1850 he reads individual chapters of the 2nd volume of Dead Souls to his friends. The approval inspires the writer, who now works with renewed energy. In the spring of 1850, Gogol made his first and last attempt to organize his family life- makes an offer to A. M. Vielgorskaya, but is refused. January 1, 1852 Gogol reports that the 2nd volume is “completely finished.” But in the last days of the month, signs of a new crisis were clearly revealed, the impetus for which was the death of E. M. Khomyakova, a person spiritually close to Gogol. He is tormented by a premonition near death, aggravated by newly intensified doubts about the beneficialness of his writing career and the success of the work being carried out. At the end of January - beginning of February, Gogol meets Father Matvey (Konstantinovsky) who arrived in Moscow; the content of their conversations remained unknown, however, there is an indication that Father Matvey advised to destroy part of the chapters of the poem, motivating this step by the “harmful influence” that they would have. The death of Khomyakova, the conviction of Konstantinovsky and, perhaps, other reasons convinced Gogol to abandon his creativity and begin fasting a week before Lent. On February 5, he saw off Konstantinovsky and since that day he eats almost nothing and stops leaving the house. At 3 a.m. from Monday to Tuesday, February 11-12, 1852, Gogol woke up his servant Semyon, ordered him to open the stove valves and bring a briefcase with manuscripts from the closet. Taking out a bunch of notebooks from it, Gogol put them in the fireplace and burned them (only 5 chapters, relating to various draft editions, were preserved in incomplete form). On February 20, a medical council decided to compulsorily treat Gogol, but the measures taken did not produce results. On the morning of February 21, N.V. Gogol died. Last words The writer was: “Stairs, quickly, give me the stairs!”

Information about the works:

At the Nizhyn gymnasium, Gogol was not a diligent student, but had an excellent memory, prepared for exams in a few days and moved from class to class; he was very weak in languages and made progress only in drawing and Russian literature.

It was Gogol, in his article “A few words about Pushkin,” who was the first to call Pushkin the greatest Russian national poet.

The morning after the burning of the manuscripts, Gogol told Count Tolstoy that he wanted to burn only some things that had been prepared in advance, but he burned everything under the influence of an evil spirit.

A bronze cross was installed on Gogol’s grave, standing on a black tombstone (“Golgotha”). In 1952, instead of Golgotha, they installed on the grave new monument, Golgotha, as unnecessary, was in the workshops for some time Novodevichy Cemetery, where she was discovered by the widow of E. S. Bulgakov. Elena Sergeevna bought the tombstone, after which it was installed over the grave of Mikhail Afanasyevich.

The 1909 film Viy is considered the first Russian “horror film”. Yes, the film has not survived to this day. And the film adaptation of the same Viy in 1967 is the only Soviet “horror film”.

Bibliography

Poems

Hanz Küchelgarten (1827)

Cycles of stories and novellas

First Book (1831)
1. Sorochinskaya fair
2. The evening before Ivan Kupala
3. May Night, or the Drowned Woman
4. Missing certificate
Second Book (1832)
1. The Night Before Christmas
2. Terrible revenge
3. Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and his aunt
4. Enchanted place

First part:
1. Old world landowners
2. Taras Bulba
Second part:
1. Viy
2. The story of how Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich

Nevsky Prospekt (1833-1834)
Nose (1832-1833)
Overcoat (1839-1840)
Notes of a Madman (1834)
Portrait (1833-1834)
Carriage (1835)

Not included in cycles
Rome (1839-1842)
Dead Souls (1909) dir. P. Chardynin, short film
The Night Before Christmas (1913) dir. V. Starevich
Portrait (1915) dir. V. Starevich
Viy (1916) dir. V. Starevich
How Ivan Ivanovich quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich (1941) dir. A. Kustov
May Night, or the Drowned Woman (1952) dir. A. Rowe
The Inspector General (1952) dir. V. Petrov
The Overcoat (1959) dir. A. Batalov
Dead Souls (1960) dir. L. Trauberg
Evenings on a farm near Dikanka (1961) dir. A. Rowe
Viy (1967) dir. K. Ershov
Marriage (1977) dir. V. Melnikov
Incognito from St. Petersburg (1977) dir. L. Gaidai, based on the play The Inspector General
The Nose (1977) dir. R. Bykov
Dead Souls (1984) dir. M. Schweitzer, serial
The Inspector General (1996) dir. S. Gazarov
Evenings on a farm near Dikanka (2002) dir. S. Gorov, musical
The Case of “Dead Souls” (2005) dir. P. Lungin, television series
The Witch (2006) dir. O. Fesenko, based on the story by Viy
Russian Game (2007) dir. P. Chukhrai, based on the play Players
Taras Bulba (2009) dir. V. Bortko
Happy Ending (2010) dir. J. Chevazhevsky, modern version based on the story Nose

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol - great Russian writer, author immortal works“The Inspector General”, “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka”, “Taras Bulba”, “Viy”, “Dead Souls” and many others.

Nikolai Gogol was born on March 20, 1809 in the town of Velikiye Sorochintsy, Mirgorod district, Poltava province, into the family of a poor landowner. My childhood was spent on my parents’ estate Vasilyevka, near the village of Dikanka, the land of legends, beliefs, historical legends. His father, Vasily Afanasyevich, a passionate admirer of art, a theater lover, and the author of poetry and witty comedies, played a certain role in the upbringing of the future writer.

After home education, Gogol spent two years at the Poltava district school, then entered the Nizhyn Gymnasium of Higher Sciences. Here he learns to play the violin, takes up painting, takes part in plays, playing comic roles.

After graduating from high school in 1828, the writer went to St. Petersburg with the hope of starting a broad career. But the first literary attempts were unsuccessful.

In 1830, Gogol’s first story “Basavryuk” appeared in the journal “Otechestvennye zapiski”, which was later revised into the story “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”. In December, Delvig’s almanac “Northern Flowers” published a chapter from historical novel"Hetman". Gogol becomes close to Delvig, Zhukovsky, Pushkin, friendship with whom was great importance for development public views and the literary talent of young Gogol. Pushkin introduced him into his circle, where Krylov, Vyazemsky, Odoevsky, the artist Bryullov were, and gave him plots for The Inspector General and Dead Souls.

Gogol's literary fame was brought to him by "Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka" (1831 - 32), the stories "Sorochinskaya Fair", "May Night" and others. In 1833 he decided to devote himself to scientific and pedagogical work and in 1834 he was appointed associate professor in Department of General History at St. Petersburg University. The study of works on the history of Ukraine formed the basis of the plan for "Taras Bulba". In 1835 he left the university and devoted himself entirely to literary creativity. In the same year, collections of stories "Mirgorod" were published, which included "Old World Landowners", "Taras Bulba", "Viy", etc., and "Arabesques" (on themes of St. Petersburg life). “The Inspector General” was written in 1835 and already staged in Moscow in 1836 with the participation of Shchepkin.

On February 11, 1852, being in a difficult mental state, the writer burned the manuscript of the second volume of the poem “Dead Souls.” On the morning of February 21, Gogol died in his apartment on Nikitsky Boulevard.

Gogol was buried in the cemetery of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow. After the revolution, Gogol's remains were moved to the Novodevichy cemetery.

“To be in the world and not have anything to indicate your existence - it seems terrible to me.” N.V. Gogol.

Genius of classical literature

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is known to the world as a writer, poet, playwright, publicist and critic. A man of remarkable talent and an amazing master of words, he is famous both in Ukraine, where he was born, and in Russia, to which he eventually moved.

Gogol is especially known for his mystical heritage. His stories, written in a unique Ukrainian language, which is not literary in the full sense of the word, convey the depth and beauty of Ukrainian speech, known throughout the world. Viy gave Gogol his greatest popularity. What other works did Gogol write? We will look at the list of works below. These are sensational stories, often mystical, and stories from school curriculum, and little-known works of the author.

List of works by the writer

In total, Gogol wrote more than 30 works. He continued to complete some of them, despite publication. Many of his creations had several variations, including Taras Bulba and Viy. Having published the story, Gogol continued to reflect on it, sometimes adding or changing the ending. Often his stories have several endings. So, next we will consider the most famous works of Gogol. The list is in front of you:

"Hanz Küchelgarten" (1827-1829, under the pseudonym A. Alov).
“Evenings on a farm near Dikanka” (1831), part 1 (“Sorochinskaya Fair”, “Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”, “Drowned Man”, “Missing Letter”). Its second part was published a year later. It included the following stories: “The Night Before Christmas”, “Terrible Revenge”, “Ivan Fedorovich Shponka and His Aunt”, “Enchanted Place”.
"Mirgorod" (1835). Its edition was divided into 2 parts. The first part included the stories “Taras Bulba” and “Old World Landowners”. The second part, completed in 1839-1841, included “Viy” and “The Story of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich.”
"The Nose" (1841-1842).
"Morning business man" It was written, like the comedies “Litigation”, “Excerpt” and “Lackey”, in the period from 1832 to 1841.
"Portrait" (1842).
“Notes of a Madman” and “Nevsky Prospekt” (1834-1835).
"The Inspector General" (1835).
The play "Marriage" (1841).
"Dead Souls" (1835-1841).
Comedies "The Players" and "Theatrical Tour after the Presentation of a New Comedy" (1836-1841).
"Overcoat" (1839-1841).
"Rome" (1842).

These are published works that Gogol wrote. The works (list by year, more precisely) indicate that the heyday of the writer’s talent occurred in 1835-1841. Now let’s take a little look at the reviews of the most famous stories Gogol.

"Viy" - Gogol's most mystical creation

The story of “Viy” tells about the recently deceased lady, the centurion’s daughter, who, as the whole village knew, was a witch. The centurion, at the request of his beloved daughter, makes the funeral student Khoma Brut read over her. The witch, who died due to Khoma’s fault, dreams of revenge...

Reviews of the work “Viy” are complete praise for the writer and his talent. It is impossible to discuss the list of Nikolai Gogol’s works without mentioning everyone’s favorite “Viy”. Readers note bright characters, original, unique, with their own characters and habits. All of them are typical Ukrainians, cheerful and optimistic people, rude but kind. It is impossible not to appreciate Gogol's subtle irony and humor.

The writer’s unique style and his ability to play on contrasts are also highlighted. During the day, the peasants walk and have fun, Khoma also drinks so as not to think about the horror of the coming night. With the arrival of evening, a gloomy, mystical silence sets in - and Khoma again enters the circle outlined in chalk...

A very short story keeps you in suspense until the last pages. Below are stills from the 1967 film of the same name.

Satirical comedy "The Nose"

“The Nose” is an amazing story, written in such a satirical form that at first it seems fantastically absurd. According to the plot, Platon Kovalev, a public person and prone to narcissism, wakes up in the morning without a nose - his place is empty. In a panic, Kovalev begins to look for his lost nose, because without it you won’t even appear in decent society!

Readers easily saw the prototype of Russian (and not only!) society. Gogol's stories, despite the fact that they were written in the 19th century, do not lose their relevance. Gogol, whose list of works can mostly be divided into mysticism and satire, felt very subtly modern society, which has not changed at all over the past time. Rank and external polish are still held in high esteem, but no one is interested in the inner content of a person. It is Plato’s nose, with an outer shell, but without internal content, that becomes the prototype of a richly dressed man, intelligently thinking, but soulless.

"Taras Bulba"

"Taras Bulba" is a great creation. When describing Gogol's works, the most famous, the list of which is provided above, one cannot fail to mention this story. The plot centers on two brothers, Andrei and Ostap, as well as their father, Taras Bulba himself, a strong, courageous and extremely principled man.

Readers especially highlight the small details of the story, which the author focused on, which enliven the picture and make those distant times closer and understandable. The writer spent a long time studying the details of everyday life of that era, so that readers could more vividly and vividly imagine the events taking place. In general, Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich, the list of whose works we are discussing today, always attached special meaning little things.

The charismatic characters also made a lasting impression on readers. Tough, merciless Taras, ready to do anything for the sake of the Motherland, brave and courageous Ostap and romantic, selfless Andrey - they cannot leave readers indifferent. In general, the famous works of Gogol, the list of which we are considering, have interesting feature- a surprising but harmonious contradiction in the characters’ characters.

"Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka"

Another mystical, but at the same time funny and ironic work by Gogol. The blacksmith Vakula is in love with Oksana, who promised to marry him if he gets her slippers like the queen herself. Vakula is in despair... But then, quite by chance, he comes across evil spirits having fun in the village in the company of a witch. It is not surprising that Gogol, whose list of works includes numerous Mystic stories, this story involved a witch and a devil.

This story is interesting not only because of the plot, but also because of the colorful characters, each of whom is unique. They, as if alive, appear before the readers, each in their own image. Gogol admires some slight irony He admires Vakula, and teaches Oksana to appreciate and love. Like a caring father, he chuckles good-naturedly at his characters, but it all looks so soft that it only evokes a gentle smile.

The character of the Ukrainians, their language, customs and foundations, so clearly described in the story, could only be described in such detail and lovingly by Gogol. Even making fun of the “Moskalyama” looks cute from the lips of the characters in the story. This is because Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, whose list of works we are discussing today, loved his homeland and spoke of it with love.

"Dead Souls"

Sounds mystical, don’t you agree? However, in fact, Gogol did not resort to mysticism in this work and looked much deeper - into human souls. The main character Chichikov seems like a negative character at first glance, but the more the reader gets to know him, the more positive traits notices in him. Gogol makes the reader worry about the fate of his hero, despite his unpleasant actions, which already says a lot.

In this work, the writer, as always, is an excellent psychologist and a true genius of words.

Of course, these are not all the works that Gogol wrote. The list of works is incomplete without the continuation of Dead Souls. It was its author who allegedly burned it before his death. Rumor has it that in the next two volumes Chichikov was supposed to improve and become a decent person. Is it so? Unfortunately, now we will never know for sure.

Although 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 language 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 with 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 big 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. Thus, through the stories of a simple peasant, the flavor of Ukrainian life is conveyed. This character seems to wink at the reader, slyly reserving the right to fiction, but presenting it as the pure truth. And all this with a special upbeat intonation.

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

The action of all the stories included in the collection is associated with one of the time chronological layers: antiquity, recent legendary times 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.

The 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 thirsty 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 the story of an old married couple as a 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 them worst traits. Elite secular society 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 accidentally 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 on 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 of a 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 Vasilyevich included this passage in “Dramatic passages and individual scenes” in his 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 difficult fate. The planned three-volume work 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 just 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 for the 150th anniversary of the writer’s birth, a new film, “The Overcoat,” directed by Alexei Batalov, was shot.

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

The writer twisted the plot story so much, flavoring everything with chic turns of phrase, including slang expressions of gamblers, that the comedy 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)

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 a critical review in the form of an 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.

The most famous story in this series 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 completely consistent with the 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 left the theater stage to this day, not only in our country, but also abroad. This work became a reflection of the vices, arbitrariness and limitations of 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 time- approximately from the 30s to the 40s of the 19th 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 Akaki 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 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 acquired certain number such souls, he could borrow a decent amount from the state and go with it somewhere to warmer climes.

The first and only volume of Dead Souls tells about what adventures await Chichikov.