Perfect book to spend time with during Orthodox Christmas. Gogol based his short story collection on Ukranian fables and legends, which made for a colourful mixed bag of goodies. I loved reading The Night Before Christmas on the actual night, going back in time, and seeing how people of Eastern Europe used to celebrate the holiday. The traditions kind of reminded me of the way westerners celebrate Halloween: running from house to house late into the night and calling out for treats, while singing songs and enjoying the general merriment. This was the night when evil spirits had the last chance to wreak havoc, and the story's witch and the demon tried to take advantage of fully. Gogol's tale is full of wonder, joy, and spookiness that I absolutely loved. His other stories were equally great. In a way Gogol's writing reminded me of the gothic macabre of Edgar Allan Poe, but mixed with the magic of Dickens's A Christmas Carol.