Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka

This collection of short stories was written from 1831 to 1832. The tales first appeared in various magazines and were published in book form when Gogol was twenty two. Containing many of Gogol’s early impressions and memories of childhood, the stories present images of humble peasant life in the Ukraine. They are also heavily laced with Ukrainian folklore and cultural references, offering a unique perspective into life in the country during that time period.

This book was Gogol’s groundbreaking work, forming the style he would use in his later and more famous works. The collection established him as a new power in Russian literature, whose unique blend of horror with humour was original and very popular with his readers.

This collection has all 8 stories featured on this site, containing a total of 78,570 words.