Mertvye dushi [Dead Souls]

The release of the first volume of 'Dead Souls' by N. Gogol in 1842 caused a heated controversy among contemporaries, splitting society into admirers and opponents of the poem. '... Speaking of Dead Souls, one can talk a lot about Russia ...' - this judgment of P. Vyazemsky explained the main reason for the disputes and determined the special place of the book in the history of Russian literature. Today, no one doubts that we have before us the greatest work, rightfully included in the golden fund of national classics. 'Dead Souls' is studied at school. However, having matured, it is worth turning over the familiar pages again. Like 160 years ago, the poem makes the reader plunge headlong into the atmosphere of Gogol's Russia; it causes a lot of reflection not only on the past, but also on the present and future of our country. The author's question is still relevant: 'Rus, where are you going, give me an answer?'