(1809-1852) Russian writer. His first success was a collection of stories, Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka 1831–32, followed by Mirgorod 1835. Later works include Arabesques 1835, the comedy play The Inspector General 1836, and the picaresque novel Dead Souls 1842, which satirizes Russian provincial society.
Gogol was born near Poltava. He tried several careers before entering the St Petersburg civil service. From 1835 he traveled in Europe, and it was in Rome that he completed the earlier part of Dead Souls 1842. Other works include the short stories ‘The Overcoat’ and ‘The Nose’.