Moreover, he gave Gogol a grant of money, and asked that its source should not be revealed to the author lest "he might feel obliged to write from the official point of view." Gogol was born at Sorotchinetz, Little Russia, in March 1809.

He left college at nineteen and went to St.Petersburg, where he secured a position as copying clerk in a government department.

He did not keep his position long, yet long enough to store away in his mind a number of bureaucratic types which proved useful later.

He quite suddenly started for America with money given to him by his mother for another purpose, but when he got as far as Lubeck he turned back.

He then wanted to become an actor, but his voice proved not strong enough.