A review by ineffectual_intellectual
Taras Bulba and Other Tales by Nikolai Gogol

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

Gogol’s writing has aged like a cheese: potentially promising but ultimately stinky and divisive. I found the antiquated language, stereotypes, and tropes undermined my enjoyment of the stories told. Additionally, many of the stories are difficult to relate to in the first place. They do serve as a good window into late imperial Russia, so if you’re looking to understand the ethics and mentality of the time these are the right stories for you.