The Works of Nikolai Gogol, Vol. 1

Undertaking the publication of my works, which have appeared until now separately and were partially scattered in periodicals, I have reviewed them again: there is much that is immature, much that is ill-considered, and much that is childishly imperfect! Whatever could be corrected has been corrected; what could not be has remained uncorrected, just as it was. The entire first part ought to have been excluded entirely: these are initial student experiments, unworthy of the strict attention of the reader; but upon them were felt the first sweet minutes of youthful