The Nose

In 1835 the magazine “Moscow Observer” refused to publish Gogol’s story, calling it “dirty, vulgar, and trivial.” But unlike the “Moscow Observer,” Alexander Pushkin believed the work contained “so much unexpected, fantastic, cheerful, and original,” and he persuaded the author to publish the story in the magazine “Contemporary” in 1836.

“ The Nose” was subjected to harsh and repeated criticism; as a result, the author rewrote a number of details: Major Kovalëv’s encounter with the Nose was moved from Kazan Cathedral to Gostiny Dvor, and the ending of the story was changed several times.