This volume is designed to present biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on Nikolai Gogol's best-known or most important short stories. Following Harold Bloom's editor’s note and introduction is a detailed biography of Nikolai Gogol, discussing major life events and important literary accomplishments. A plot summary of each short story follows, tracing significant themes, patterns, and motifs in the work, and an annotated list of characters supplies brief information on the main characters in each story.
Gogol's examined works include "The Portrait," "Nevsky Prospect," "The Nose," "The Overcoat," and " Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt."
CONTENTS User's Guide Editor's Note Introduction Biography of Nikolai Gogol - Plot Summary of "The Portrait" - List of Characters in "The Portrait" - Critical Views on "The Portrait" - Plot Summary of "Nevsky Prospect" - List of Characters in "Nevsky Prospect" - Critical Views on "Nevsky Prospect" - Plot Summary of "The Nose" - List of Characters in "The Nose" - Critical Views on "The Nose" - Plot Summary of "The Overcoat" - List of Characters in "The Overcoat" - Critical Views on "The Overcoat" - Plot Summary of "Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt" - List of Characters in "Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt" Critical Views on "Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt" Works by Nikolai Gogol Works about Nikolai Gogol Acknowledgements Index of Themes and Ideas