Mykola Hohol
Meet the Ukrainian writer known for his iconic works with unique narratives and characters capturing the Ukrainian village life
Mykola Hohol by Daguerreotype (early photography) taken of Mykola Hohol in 1845. RedditCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
The works by Mykola Hohol as well as his life are imbued with the air of mystery. He burnt his first and last texts. All his life Hohol feared hell and demonic creatures such as cats, insects, and reptiles.
Born in Velyki Sorochyntsi of the Poltava region in Ukraine, Hohol left for St. Petersburg to pursue his calling for writing. Most of his works were created in the Russian language.
Mykola Hohol by A portrait of Nikolai Gogol by F. Moller (1840). Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. ©2001 All Rights Reserved. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies.CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
His works of various literary genres became classics: a historical story Taras Bulba, a novella named after a demonic creature Viy, a comedy play Inspector General, and Dead Souls planned as a trilogy novel in verse.
A significant part of Hohol's works revolves around the Ukrainian context of life in the local villages and their people which the writer described in detail. Hohol depicted Ukrainian life as hectic and vibrant, where regular men and women co-existed together with devils and witches. The collection of stories Evenings on a Farm near Dykanka became the writer’s first success.
Mykola Hohol by Young Mykola Hohol. RedditCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Although having written almost wholly in Russian, Hohol's Ukrainian roots are seen throughout his literary pathway. His understanding and knowledge of the local context in the stories set in Ukraine are very distinctive. Still, many debates revolve around the writer's figure.
Text: based on text byBorys Filonenko
Original text from the album of the Prominent Ukrainians project, published jointly by Pictoric Illustrators Club, Pavlo Gudimov Ya Gallery Art Center, Artbook Publishing House and Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Photo:
©2001 All Rights Reserved. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies.
