GSAS Lecture: "Gogol's Soul" with Taras Koznarsky (Univiersity of Toronto)

Date and Time

February 22, 2017
04:15PM - 04:15PM EST

Location

Kresge Room (Barker Center 114)

In the canon of Russian literature (and for that matter, Ukrainian literature), no writerly soul ever attracted so much attention, scrutiny, and speculation as Gogol. Details of Gogol’s life and death puzzled his close circle and intrigued the wider public as possible manifestations of some profound disorder.  With his bouts of moodiness and righteousness, irritation and banter, humility and preaching, Gogol fueled this interest, and the polarized reception of his work ascribed notions of discrepancy, conflict, and inadequacy to his entire being.  At the later stages of his career, he was on various occasions categorized as insane – whether in Aksakov’s concerned estimations, Belinsky’s furious tirade, or the rumors of Moscow high society.  More than 160 years after his death, the “diagnosing” continues…

 

 

 

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Accessibility

Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Slavic Department at 617-495-4065 or slavic@fas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the university will make every effort to secure services, but that services are subject to availability.