Even remembering all the writers who contributed to the development of Russian literature, it is difficult to find a more mysterious figure than Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The biography summarized in this article will help to get some idea of the personality of a genius. So, what interesting details are known about the life path traveled by the creator, his family, written works?
Gogol's father and mother
Of course, all fans of the writer's work would like to have an idea of the family in which he was born. Gogol's mother was called Maria, the girl came from a little-known kind of landowners. According to legend, in the Poltava region there was no young lady more beautiful than her. She entered into marriage with the father of the famous writer at the age of 14, gave birth to 12 children, some of whom died in infancy. Nikolai became her third child and first survivor. Memoirs of contemporaries say that Mary was a religious woman, diligently tried to instill a love of God for her children.
It is also interesting who became the father of such an amazing person as Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The biography summarized in this material cannot but mention it. Vasily Yanovsky-Gogol for many years was an employee of the post office, rose to the rank of college assessor. It is known that he was fond of the magical world of art, even composed poems, which, unfortunately, were practically not preserved. It is possible that the son’s talent for writing was inherited from his father.
Writer Biography
Fans of the genius are also interested in where and when Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was born. The biography summarized in this article states that Poltava province is its homeland. The childhood of a boy born in 1809 passed in the village of Sorochintsy. His education began at the Poltava school, then continued at the Nizhyn gymnasium. It is curious that the writer could not be called a diligent student. Gogol showed interest mainly in Russian literature, achieved some success in drawing.
Nikolai began to write as a teenager, but his first creations could not be called successful. The situation changed when he moved to Petersburg, already being an adult youth. For some time Gogol tried to gain recognition as an actor, performed on the stage of one of the Petersburg theaters. However, having failed, he completely concentrated on writing. By the way, a few years later he managed to become famous in the theatrical sphere, acting as a playwright.
What kind of work allowed to declare himself as a writer to such a person as Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol? The biography, summarized in this material, claims that it was the novel “An Evening Before Ivan Kupala”. Initially, the story had a different name, but the publishers before publishing for unknown reasons asked to replace it.
Famous works
Dead Souls is a poem, without which it is difficult to imagine Russian literature, the work is included in the school curriculum. The writer in it considers his native state as a country suffering from bribery, mired in vices, impoverished spiritually. Of course, predicts a mystical revival of the Russian Empire. It is interesting that it was after the writing of this poem that N.V. Gogol died.
“Taras Bulba” is a historical story, during the creation of which the author was inspired by real events of the 15-17th centuries that took place on the territory of Ukraine. The work is interesting not only with the moral issues that it raises, but also with a detailed description of the life of the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
"Viy" invites readers to plunge into the traditions of the ancient Slavs, to find out the world inhabited by mystical creatures, allows them to get scared and overcome their fear. The “Examiner” ridicules the way of life of provincial bureaucracy, the vices characteristic of its representatives. “Nose” is a fantastic story telling about excessive pride and retribution for it.
The death of a writer
There is hardly a famous person whose death is surrounded by as many riddles and assumptions. It is death that is associated with many interesting facts about Gogol that haunt biographers.
Some researchers insist that Nikolai Vasilyevich laid hands on himself, using the poison. Others argue that his early departure from life was the result of the depletion of the body associated with numerous fasts. Still others insist that the death of Gogol led to the wrong treatment of meningitis. There are those who claim that the writer was buried alive while in a lethargic dream. None of the theories could be proved.
It is only known for certain that during the last 20 years of his life the writer suffered from manic-depressive psychosis, but he avoided going to doctors. Gogol died in 1852.
Curious facts
Nikolai Vasilievich was extremely shy. It got to the point that the genius left the room, the threshold of which was crossed by a stranger. It is believed that the creator left this world, and without losing innocence, he never had a romantic relationship with a woman. Gogol was also very dissatisfied with his appearance, his nose caused particular irritation. Apparently, this part of the body really excited him, since he even named the story in her honor. It is also known that when posing for portraits, he forced artists to change the look of their nose.
Interesting facts about Gogol are associated not only with his appearance and behavior, but also with creativity. Biographers believe that there was a second volume of Dead Souls, which the writer himself destroyed shortly before his death. It is also curious that the plot of The Inspector General prompted him to Pushkin, sharing an interesting life story.