The “Petersburg Tales” by Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1809–1852) describe life in St. Petersburg in the 30s and 40s of the 19th century. The collection includes: “Nevsky Prospekt”, “Nose”, “Portrait”, “Overcoat”, “Stroller”, “Notes of a Madman”. The heroes of “Petersburg Tales” are “little people” with a low social status and without outstanding abilities. The stories also expose the squalor of morals and spirituality of the bureaucratic and secular environment. “Petersburg Stories” reflected the entire originality of the literary talent of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. Critic V.G. Belinsky wrote: “The distinctive character of Mr. Gogol’s stories consists of simplicity of fiction, nationality, the perfect truth of life, originality and comic animation, always overcome by a deep feeling of sadness and despondency. The reason for all these qualities lies in one source: Mr. Gogol is a poet, a poet of real life.”