Nikolai Gogol was a Ukranian-born writer of the first half of the 19th century. Along with several plays, he wrote many fine tales celebrating the folklore and traditions of his native land, which were compiled in the collection Evenings On A Farm Near Dakanka (1831). Not just a documentation of quaint customs and nationalism, Gogol sprinkled his tales with a dry humor, and even some horror, as can be found in the tale St. John's Eve, where a would-be brdegroom unwittingly sacrifices the younger brother of his paramour, in a diabolic ritual, to obtain the fortune necessary to appease his father-in-law-to-be.
There are devils aplenty in these tales, but none as fantastic and unusual as Vij, the creature with the unavoidable gaze, which appeared in the collection Mirogorod (1835). There is a hint of repressed sexuality in this tale, as well as an obvious fear of female sensuality, as is evidenced in the main character, Khoma Brut's interaction with the bewitching daughter of a cossack captain.
These two tales in particular left an indelible impression on my imagination as a youth, and even though he is best known for his epic tale Taras Bulba, and his masterpiece of social commentary, Dead Souls, his short stories shall remain closest to my heart.I dedicate this site to Gogol and all who seek him out online. |
