Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, a recognized classic of Russian literature, is considered one of the founders of realism. His work includes prose, poetry, and dramatic pieces, as well as critical and journalistic articles.

Gogol was born in 1809 in the Ukrainian village of Velikiye Sorochintsy to a family of modest landowners. He spent his childhood in the village of Vasilyevka.

Nikolai received his primary education at home. From 1818 to 1819, he studied at the Poltava County School, and from 1821 to 1828, at the Nezhin Gymnasium of Higher Sciences. Even during his school years, he passionately performed on stage and tried his hand at directing. Additionally, he was interested in Ukrainian history, folk customs, and folklore. During this time, he began writing his first literary works and publishing them in manuscript journals and almanacs.

After graduating from the gymnasium, Nikolai went to Saint Petersburg. He dreamed of literary fame and wanted to try acting, but was forced to work as a clerk for a small salary.

In 1829, Gogol published the poem "Hans Küchelgarten" at his own expense, but it was met with a cold reception by critics. He bought up and burned all unsold copies.

Realizing the need to find a new direction, Gogol published several stories and a chapter from the novel "Hetman." True success came to him with the release of the collection "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka."

From 1834 to 1835, Gogol engaged in teaching, giving lectures on history at the Saint Petersburg Imperial University. In 1835, his collections "Mirgorod" and "Arabesques" were published, as well as the play "The Government Inspector," which premiered in 1836.

The public did not accept the play. Disappointed, Gogol went abroad but periodically returned to Russia. He lived in Germany, Switzerland, France, and then in Italy, where he particularly loved Rome. There, he actively worked on the novel "Dead Souls" and completed the story "The Overcoat."

After publishing the first volume of "Dead Souls," Gogol worked on the second, but in 1845 he experienced a mental crisis. He made a will, wanted to enter a monastery, burned the manuscript of the second volume, and went to Jerusalem.

In 1848, Gogol returned to Russia and continued working on "Dead Souls," but shortly before his death, he burned the manuscripts again. He became immersed in dark thoughts, stopped leaving the house, observed a strict fast, and brought himself to physical and nervous exhaustion.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol passed away on the morning of February 21, 1852, just shy of his 43rd birthday.