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anastassia31's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
stoks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Every writer has their beginning.
After a short (and apparently embarrassing) foray into poetry, Nikolai Gogol searches for his purpose back home. With motives of Ukrainian folklore and grotesque, this short story collection represents a prototype for the first half of Gogol's bibliography.
The collection is split into two halves, released in sequential years (1831-1832). Even if Gogol himself stated that part one is "bad and redundant", I would argue that these short stories as a whole represent his maturing as a writer, in record time as well. The stories start off light, innocent and short, with slight previews of horror ( St. John's Eve) and transition into structured, longer and more grotesque works in the second half. There is even a glimpse into Gogol's humor and satire (Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt), which will become a golden standard in his latter work.
What stood out for me was magical realism at it's finest. Gogol on one hand describes the scenery and lives of people in the village with incredible accuracy; A second later, we are engulfed by a strange new world, eerie demon or an absurd task. All of the details are not accidental: Gogol, through a series of letters from his relatives, prepared himself well for his prose debut. All of the locations in the book are real and the writer himself hides behind a partial narrator named Rudy Panko (red grandchild). He was also extremely proud of his Ukrainian (or Little Russian, as it was know at the time- a rather bleak fact, especially in recent years) heritage, which can be seen through constant historical motifs. Zaporozhian Cossacks are a staple in almost all of the stories, being portrayed as great, independent and fearless warriors, often being protagonists or close allies.
Being Serbian, the whole collection felt fresh, yet familiar. Ukrainian life on the countryside, symbolism of the number 3 and the color red, strong religious motifs, as well as the writing style - all of these are closely related to Serbian stories and the way of living, as part of the Slavic culture.
As for the shortcomings, I'd point out that releasing an unfinished story (Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt), while you're still alive, makes absolutely no sense to me; Especially since they are not dependent on each other for cohesiveness. A more more negative motif however, would be blatant antisemitism that's showing up in multiple stories. Be it a paragraph or just a quick stereotypical jab, those moments really stick out and kill the momentum of the stories. It is a historical testimony of a larger problem in the Russian Empire at the time, starting from the Tsars themselves and culminating in pogroms/genocides throughout the 19th century. There is a possibility that Gogol added these remarks as a way to get closer to the Russian government or that it was State mandated/edited, especially since he has a track record of pro-Russian edits later in his career, but there is insufficient evidence to back either side.
Nevertheless, "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka" represents a grand entrance for Gogol and a strong overture for his later works.
4,5/5
After a short (and apparently embarrassing) foray into poetry, Nikolai Gogol searches for his purpose back home. With motives of Ukrainian folklore and grotesque, this short story collection represents a prototype for the first half of Gogol's bibliography.
The collection is split into two halves, released in sequential years (1831-1832). Even if Gogol himself stated that part one is "bad and redundant", I would argue that these short stories as a whole represent his maturing as a writer, in record time as well. The stories start off light, innocent and short, with slight previews of horror ( St. John's Eve) and transition into structured, longer and more grotesque works in the second half. There is even a glimpse into Gogol's humor and satire (Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt), which will become a golden standard in his latter work.
What stood out for me was magical realism at it's finest. Gogol on one hand describes the scenery and lives of people in the village with incredible accuracy; A second later, we are engulfed by a strange new world, eerie demon or an absurd task. All of the details are not accidental: Gogol, through a series of letters from his relatives, prepared himself well for his prose debut. All of the locations in the book are real and the writer himself hides behind a partial narrator named Rudy Panko (red grandchild). He was also extremely proud of his Ukrainian (or Little Russian, as it was know at the time- a rather bleak fact, especially in recent years) heritage, which can be seen through constant historical motifs. Zaporozhian Cossacks are a staple in almost all of the stories, being portrayed as great, independent and fearless warriors, often being protagonists or close allies.
Being Serbian, the whole collection felt fresh, yet familiar. Ukrainian life on the countryside, symbolism of the number 3 and the color red, strong religious motifs, as well as the writing style - all of these are closely related to Serbian stories and the way of living, as part of the Slavic culture.
As for the shortcomings, I'd point out that releasing an unfinished story (Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt), while you're still alive, makes absolutely no sense to me; Especially since they are not dependent on each other for cohesiveness. A more more negative motif however, would be blatant antisemitism that's showing up in multiple stories. Be it a paragraph or just a quick stereotypical jab, those moments really stick out and kill the momentum of the stories. It is a historical testimony of a larger problem in the Russian Empire at the time, starting from the Tsars themselves and culminating in pogroms/genocides throughout the 19th century. There is a possibility that Gogol added these remarks as a way to get closer to the Russian government or that it was State mandated/edited, especially since he has a track record of pro-Russian edits later in his career, but there is insufficient evidence to back either side.
Nevertheless, "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka" represents a grand entrance for Gogol and a strong overture for his later works.
4,5/5
blueyorkie's review against another edition
5.0
Hidden behind the nickname of Panko, The Red beekeeper, Nicolas Gogol gives us some novels here under the title "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka". A successful bet for this young man of barely twenty-two years old. His short stories, inspired by legends he heard as a child, tell the story of Ukraine. And, through it, a multitude of colourful characters, each as picturesque as the next. We find cantankerous mothers-in-law, young men in love, wicked witches, proud and terrible Cossacks, poor superstitious peasants, greedy and abused Jews, lazy people and pranksters. Small people, who could come from any hamlet, hid in remote places and were found in fairs and markets. Despite their apparent characteristics, they are not one-dimensional characters. They have their motivations and manage to move us and even surprise us. They give us a part of this Ukrainian people, that of these highly folkloric regions, still a little wild, always so captivating. Indeed, if Gogol makes us believe his characters, he also successfully portrays the Ukraine of the time. This country of green steppes is on both sides of the majestic Dniepr River. This country has joyful and burning days and starry and enchanting nights. This country that we must sometimes - often, even - dispute with the devil. For many, life is a constant battle against the evil one searching for souls. In short, in a setting that is both realistic and poetic, we find the comic mixed with the nostalgic and the fantastic. Quite a knack! "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka" can only constitute a tasty little gem that almost makes you want to experience rural life under the Russian Empire.
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