"No one will solve me perfectly" 5 biggest mysteries of Nikolai Gogol

• "No one will solve me perfectly" 5 biggest mysteries of Nikolai Gogol

Nikolai Gogol - the writer, whose name is associated almost the biggest in the history of Russian literature, the number of puzzles. Is it true that Gogol suffered from mental illnesses and phobias, showed no interest in women, burned the 2nd volume of "Dead Souls" and was buried alive?

F. Moller. Portrait of Nikolay Gogol, 1840

Obsessions, a tendency to depression, strange behavior and phobias Gogol forced to talk about the presence of his mental disorders. Diagnoses ranged from "periodic melancholy" and "early dementia" to schizophrenia and manic-depressive psychosis. Numerous symptoms did not fit into the picture of the disease. In addition, the writer maintained a clarity of thought to the end, he did not have structural abnormalities of thinking. From time to time it has had a strange state of "fading" when he went in himself and did not react to others. Question accurate diagnosis is still open.

Ivanov. Portrait of Nikolay Gogol, 1841

On the night of February 12, 1852, 10 days before his death, an event occurred, which is still for many fans of Gogol's work mystery. Writer prayed to 3 o'clock in the morning, then took out several portfolio securities, and other content is ordered to burn. After that, I went back to bed and cried until morning. It is believed that on the night he burned the second volume of "Dead Souls". However, until now it is not known what was actually burned in the fireplace.

C. Mather. Portrait of Nikolay Gogol, 1841

About Gogol's sexual preferences were a lot of rumors. Traditionally, it is believed that he was either generally refused physical contact with women, or they were sporadic. Ascetic lifestyle of the writer, and lack of sexual desire in women gave birth to the myth of homosexual writer. American literary critic S. Carlin wrote about the "oppressed homosexuality" by Gogol, assuming "the suppression of emotional attraction to the same sex, and an aversion to physical or emotional contact with women."

Nikolai Gogol. Lithography E. Dmitriyev-Mamonov, 1840

However, these assumptions do not find any evidence, and have remained at the level of hypotheses. Know the name of only one woman, to which Gogol had romantic feelings and even wanted to marry her - this is Anna Vilegorskaya. But their relations were purely platonic.

Unknown artist. Portrait of Anna Mikhailovna Vilegorskoy

In 1836 he went to Europe, where he spent 10 years with interruptions. Some biographers believe that he suffered from delusions of persecution. In addition, the author considered himself terminally ill and constantly felt the need for treatment. In this case, the doctors of serious problems but hypochondria, he did not show.

F. Moller. Portrait of Nikolay Gogol, 1841

Hypochondria and the fear of being buried alive Gogol made a will in 39 years: "I beg you not to betray my land, until there are signs of decay. I mention this because during my illness on my life are moments of numbness, heart and pulse ceased to beat ... ".

F. Moller. Portrait of Nikolai Gogol, Gogol 1840Co death is also associated a large number of myths. During the reburial of the writer discovered, by some accounts, his skull was turned to one side. This prompted talk that he was actually buried alive. However, later I found another explanation: at the tomb of the first rotted side of the board, under the weight of the soil cover is lowered and pressed down on his head, and she turned to one side. There was another version: that the skull in the grave, and was not at all.

Repin. The self-immolation of Gogol 1909

The problem is that the act of exhumation is not accounted for, and eyewitness accounts vary. Sculptor N. Ramazanov, who made a death mask Gogol asserts that the body showed signs of decomposition, to the same man who is in a lethargic sleep, still can not help but react to the heat of alabaster. The version of the burial alive was another myth.