The result of all this study was a beautiful and short Homeric epic in prose, called Taras Bulba.

His appointment to a professorship in history was a ridiculous episode in his life.

After a brilliant first lecture, in which he had evidently said all he had to say, he settled to a life of boredom for himself and his pupils.

When he resigned he said joyously: "I am once more a free Cossack." Between 1834 and 1835 he produced a new series of stories, including his famous Cloak, which may be regarded as the legitimate beginning of the Russian novel.
Gogol knew little about women, who played an equally minor role in his life and in his books.

This may be partly because his personal appearance was not prepossessing.