Welcome to Russian History Retail, Episode 239, the development of Russian literature,

Part 2.

Last time we covered the Golden Age of Literature in Russia, but I forgot to include two important

authors, Nikolai Gogol, Emechael, Saltykov, Shashurden.

Before I talk about the Silver Age and Soviet Ages, I'll cover the two missing members

of the literary fraternity.

Today we also wrap up this series.

Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol Yanovsky was born in Central Ukraine in 1809.

His Ukrainian birth would always influence his writing even after he was deemed to be Russian

in order to gain greater acceptance there.

Gogol was one of the first to use the techniques of surrealism and the grotesque in his works,

which included the nose, the overcoat, and Yevsky prospect.

According to Viktor Shiklovsky, Gogol's strange style of writing resembles the Austronini

technique.

Austronini technique, also known as defamiliarization, is the artistic style of presenting audiences

common things in an unfamiliar or strange way so they can get new perspectives and see

the world differently.

Gogol would be one of the first and most successful writers to use this technique.

His early works such as evenings on a farm near Dekanka were heavily influenced by his

Ukrainian upbringing, Ukrainian culture and folklore.

His later writing satirized political corruption in the Russian Empire.

These included the government inspector and dead souls.

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