May Night, or the Drowned Maiden by Nikolai Gogol

Author: Nikolai Gogol | Published: 1831

May Night, or the Drowned Maiden Synopsis

Excerpt:

Songs were echoing in the village street. It was just the time when the young men and girls, tired with the work and cares of the day, were in the habit of assembling for the dance. In the mild evening light, cheerful songs blended with mild melodies. A mysterious twilight obscured the blue sky and made everything seem indistinct and distant. It was growing dark, but the songs were not hushed.

A young Cossack, Levko by name, the son of the village headman, had stolen away from the singers, guitar in hand. With his embroidered cap set awry on his head, and his hand playing over the strings, he stepped a measure to the music. Then he stopped at the door of a house half hidden by blossoming cherry-trees. Whose house was it? To whom did the door lead? After a little while he played and sang:

About Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Gogol, the Russian writer and dramatist, is widely considered one of the most influential figures in 19th century literature. Born in 1809 in Ukraine to a middle-class family, Gogol grew to become a master of realistic fiction who was known for his satirical works that exposed the flaws of society and politics. His works often showcased his deep interest in human psychology and served as an important point of reference for many great writers such as Dostoevsky and Chekhov.

Gogol's writing career began with poetry but he soon shifted to prose which allowed him to express himself better; some of his famous works include ‘Dead Souls’ (1842) and ‘The Government Inspector’ (1836). Find out more about Nikolai Gogol at sevenov.com.

Nikolai Gogol's Books on PageVio

Short Stories: The Fair at Sorochyntsi | St. John's Eve | May Night, or the Drowned Maiden | The Lost Letter: A Tale Told by the Sexton of the N...Church | The Night Before Christmas | A Terrible Vengeance | Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt | A Bewitched Place | The Old World Landowners | The Viy | How the Two Ivans Quarrelled | The Mysterious Portrait | Nevsky Prospekt | Diary of a Madman | The Nose | The Carriage | The Overcoat

Here's a full list of Nikolai Gogol's books.