Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol (1 April 1809 – 4 March 1852) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright of Ukrainian origin. Gogol was known for his use of the grotesque in literature, which is evident in works such as The Nose, Viy, The Overcoat, and Nevsky Prospekt. These stories, alongside others like Diary of a Madman, are noted for their proto-surrealist qualities.

His early works, including Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, were deeply influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing and culture. Later, he used satire to address political corruption in Russia, as seen in The Government Inspector and Dead Souls. He was favored by Tsar Nicholas I, who admired his writings. Other notable works include the novel Taras Bulba and the play Marriage.

Gogol's influence on literature is profound, affecting not only Russian and Ukrainian literature but also global writing. His influence is acknowledged by greats such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka, and Vladimir Nabokov, among others. Eugène-Melchior de Vogüé famously stated, "We all came out from under Gogol's Overcoat."