In the footsteps of the great Gogol:
the city of Nizhyn Automatic translate

Gogol’s birthday is coming soon - April 1. A great reason to visit Nizhyn. In this city in Ukraine, the writer spent his youth, here he wrote his first creations, here his talent was formed. Residents of Nezhin treat Nikolai Vasilyevich with love and reverence. These feelings are confirmed by the presence of Gogol Street, a museum and the world’s first monument to the writer, installed in the park again named after Gogol.

Gogol trails

It is advisable to start a walk in the wake of a genius with a visit to the former legal lyceum (gymnasium of higher sciences), and now to Nezhin State University Gogol. To get to the main building, you need to cross the river, behind which there is a park, formerly called Grafsky. The snow-white building of the main building was built in accordance with all the rules of strict classicism by the Italian architect Luigi Ruska. The funds for its construction, which is almost one million rubles, were allocated by the Chancellor of the Russian Empire, Prince A. Bezborodko. The costs paid off: the gymnasium has become one of the best Russian higher education institutions with a high level of education. She made a worthy competition to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum and Odessa Richelieu Gymnasium. The students themselves called it the "White Swan", including the schoolboy Gogol-Yanovsky (years of study 1821-1828).

Interesting Facts

Gogol studied poorly, if not badly. Mathematics and geometry were not given to him at all, but he succeeded in the Law of God and philosophy, and in his free time he wrote a lot. What else can be said about the schoolboy Gogol? He differed from his peers in a heavy, unsociable character, was sharp on the tongue. He tried his hand in poetry and prose. First, the aspiring poet and writer pleased the fellow practitioners with the poem “The Battle of Kalka”, and after it presented to the public the story “The Brothers Tverdislavichi”, which turned out to be not so successful. When the literature teacher read it, he advised Gogol: “Practice the poem, but leave the prose. It’s not yours, it’s too pointless… ”

Nikolai remembered these words for a long time, he really forgot about prose and switched to rhyme. In 1827, the result of his perseverance becomes the poem "Ganz Küchelbecker." It is published, but the reader was not interested in the book, so not a single copy was sold. The disappointment of the future literary classic knew no bounds. In his hearts, he bought up the entire circulation for his money and ruthlessly burned it. But not all of his work turned out to be bad. "Something about Nizhyn," for example, classmates took with a bang. It was a witty work of a satirical character, revealing the philistine customs of the wealthy inhabitants of Nezhin. It was in him that the first sprouts of great talent were clearly visible.

The certificate of Nikolai Gogol can hardly be set as an example to others. He received the lowest rank (XIV class), which completely crossed out all hopes for a career as a high dignitary. Nevertheless, today on the wall of the main university building there is a sign “Gogol studied here”. No bureaucratic rank can compare with this.

Source of images and plots

It is said that the future classic loved fairs. Wandered with a pen and a sheet of paper among the malls and recorded the received impressions. This hobby was not in vain, which is confirmed by the famous Sorochinskaya Fair. The icon of the Annunciation Cathedral “The Last Judgment” became an incentive for writing “The Nights Before Christmas”, and the plot of “Wii” ripened at the evening parties in the suburb of Magerki, famous for beautiful girls.

It seems that Nezhin still gives stories and images to Nikolai Vasilievich. This is stated by some students who met his ghost in the central building. Most often it is lagging and threesomes on the eve of a difficult exam. Well, those who have long been unlearned, sometimes encounter the ghost of a writer in that very Count’s park - in the favorite alleys of literary genius.

In addition to the park, you should definitely visit the Greek quarter, known for three magnificent churches - Trinity, St. Michael and All Saints, visit the Museum of a rare book, and examine all the preserved buildings of the Nezhinsky fortress. What you see will help create your own version of the works of the great Gogol.

Michael and Tatyana