Nikolai Gogol, an early 19th century Ukrainian-born Russian novelist, humorist, and dramatist, considered the father of modern Russian realism, created some of the most important works of Russian literature. Gogol satirized the corrupt bureaucracy of the Russian Empire through the scrupulous and scathing realism of his writing, which would ultimately lead to his exile. Among some of his finest works are his short stories. Collected together here in this volume is a complete collection of Nikolai Gogol's short stories. The profound influence of Gogol's works upon Russian literature is often represented by the words of literary critic Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé: "We all came out from under Gogol's Overcoat". Widely regarded as one of the greatest short stories in the history of Russian literature, "The Overcoat" tells the story of the life and death of an impoverished government clerk in the Russian capital of St. Petersburg. All told, this collection contains the nineteen short stories written by Nikolai Gogol.