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Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol is one of the most famous writers of the 19th century. During his short life, he managed to write a large number of outstanding works, many of which are now being studied at school. The top ten includes the most popular and best books by Gogol, the list of which is located below.
10 Sorochinsky Fair
“Sorochinsky Fair” opens the list of works written by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol and is part of the collection Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka. The action in the story takes place in the homeland of the prose writer. The plot revolves around a young man named Gritsko who falls in love with a beautiful girl named Khavronya. The main character wants to marry her. The girl’s father does not mind, but the stepmother refuses to give her stepdaughter for him, because he did not please her. Then Gritsko turns to the gypsy for help, who makes a plan on how to achieve the location of his stepmother and arrange a wedding.
9. Portrait
“Portrait” – a work included in the cycle “Petersburg Tales”. The main character of the story is a young man Chartkov, who is engaged in art. He is incredibly poor, he does not even have money to pay for rent. Despite this, the artist buys a portrait with the last money, which depicts an old man. He attracts a young man by the fact that the eyes in the portrait seem to be alive. The young man begins to be haunted at night by strange dreams, as if the old man comes out of the frame with a bag full of money. Chartkov in a dream manages to snatch one bundle with 1000 gold coins. In the morning, the young man wakes up and finds this money in fact. He moves to a prestigious area, rents expensive apartments and becomes a sought-after young artist with a large list of orders. Chartkov does not realize that this portrait is cursed and brings only misfortunes to its owner, which will soon affect this artist as well.
8. Nevsky Prospect
“Nevsky Prospect” included in the book “Petersburg Tales”. Nikolai Vasilyevich begins the story with an enthusiastic description of Nevsky Prospekt, which he considers one of the best places in St. Petersburg. It is here that any thoughtful observer can draw a lot of impressions for himself. The main characters of the work are Pirogov and Piskarev, who meet in this place while whipping beautiful ladies. Gogol tells two stories of these, at first glance, completely different young people, whose hopes did not come true. The author draws an analogy between these characters and reduces the reader to the idea that despite all the individuality, there is something that unites these men.
7. Overcoat
“Overcoat” – a story included in the collected works of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. In the work, the prose writer touches on the theme of the “little man”. In the center of the plot of the book is a titular adviser living in poverty named Akaky Akakievich Bashmachkin. He was very responsible for his official work, despite the fact that it was insignificant. On this occasion, jokes were also soaked by young officials in the direction of Bashmachkin. Soon Akaki notices that his old overcoat has fallen into disrepair and takes it to the tailor to patch it up. But he refuses to do this, saying that he needs to sew a new one. Bashmachkin begins to save money, infringing on himself even in small ways, in order to raise money for a new overcoat. Having collected the required amount, he orders it for himself. The joy of the new thing was short-lived, as soon the adviser was robbed. He has no choice but to wear his old one. Soon the hero falls ill with a cold and dies.
6. May Night, or the Drowned Woman
“May Night, or the Drowned Woman” – Gogol’s story, included in the book “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”. The work is based on legends about undead souls who died innocently. The main character, a young lady who can no longer endure the bullying of her stepmother, throws herself into the river to drown herself. After death, she turns into a beautiful mermaid. But even there the stepmother does not want to give rest to the deceased stepdaughter. She also turns into a mermaid. The first thing left is to seek help from people. In a dream, she comes to the young man Levko, who is the son of the head. He helps the unfortunate, and in return she happily arranges his personal life.
5. The evening before Ivan Kupala
“Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala” – The story of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol, which, like many of his works, is filled with mysticism and folklore legends about evil spirits. This is the first story that opens a cycle of works combined into the book Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka. In the center of the plot is Petrus, whose fate is deeply unhappy. In this story, Gogol wants to convey to the reader that a person is the blacksmith of his own happiness and in order to achieve his goal, in no case should one turn to Satan for help.
4. Christmas Eve
“Christmas Eve” – one of the best works of Nikolai Vasilyevich, included in the book “Evenings on a farm near Dikanka”. The main character, the blacksmith Vakula, is madly in love with the beautiful girl Oksana, who constantly mocks him. The young man wants to marry her, for which she gives him an overwhelming task. The young man must get for her the slippers that the queen wears. Vakula understands that such a task is beyond his power and is going to turn to hell for help. Unclean power, by coincidence, is at his fingertips. Together with the devil, he flies directly to the queen in St. Petersburg, where he asks the ruler for her bride’s little laces. Meanwhile, there is a rumor in the village that Vakula has committed suicide. Oksana punishes herself for this. But the young man returns healthy and unharmed with the promised gift.
3. Taras Bulba
“Taras Bulba” – one of the most famous books of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The story was repeatedly filmed and gained immense popularity. The work is completely based on historical materials, as well as the parables of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks. The main character of the story is Taras Bulba, who is an example of what a true Cossack should be like. The action of the book revolves around him and his two sons.
2. Diary of a Madman
“Diary of a Madman” included in the collection “Petersburg Tales”. In the center of the story, Gogol puts Poprishchin, who is the author of the notes. The protagonist is a petty official dissatisfied with his position and the fact that everyone pushes him around. He is obsessed with the idea that he must find his own career, and keeps a diary in which he describes his whole life, and also outlines his thoughts. The protagonist is gradually losing his mind, which is displayed in his notes.
1. Dead Souls
“Dead Souls” – the main creation of the whole life of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. The book describes Mr. Chichikov’s journey across Russia with the aim of buying up “dead souls”. While reading the novel, the reader will get to know many characters, each of which has its own individual psychological portrait. The author shows all the ugliness of the souls of the landowners, who in fact are people with dead souls, there is nothing human in them. Their only goal in life is profit.