The book for the first time contains a complete set of memoirs about Gogol the gymnasium student and the daily life of pupils of the Gymnasium of Higher Sciences in Nizhyn (1820-1832). The gymnasium was the place where the worldview and aesthetic foundations of Gogol's work were formed. The memoirs of teachers and fellow practitioners of the future writer vividly recreate the image of young Gogol, passionate about literature, theater, painting. Rich, diverse memories describe facts and events that reveal Gogol's human qualities, features of his character, the sharp personality of the personality of the future great artist. The book is intended for specialists and everyone interested in the life and work of N.V. Gogol.