Notes of a Madman. Stories

Upon finishing gymnasium at the end of 1828, Nikolai Gogol sets out to conquer Petersburg, having a rather romanticized view of it. However, the capital reveals to the young writer not only the grand entrances of luxurious mansions but also its dark alleys. Taking a job as a minor official, he actively writes, and between 1835 and 1842, the 'Petersburg Tales' come into being. Using his favorite techniques - humor, grotesque, mystical phenomena, and liminal states - Gogol showcases the life of ordinary Petersburgers and invents his 'little man', who has become iconic for Russian literature for centuries to come.