Gogol, Nicolai Vasilyevich (1809-1852)

Russian writer. His first success was a collection of stories, Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka (1831-32), followed by Mirgorod (1835). Later works include Arabesques (1835), the comedy play The Inspector General (1836), and the picaresque novel Dead Souls (1842), which satirizes Russian provincial society.

Gogol was born near Poltava. He tried several careers before entering the St Petersburg civil service. From 1835 he travelled in Europe, and it was in Rome that he completed the earlier part of Dead Souls (1842). Other works include the short stories ‘The Overcoat’ and ‘The Nose’.