The Night Before Christmas (Noch Pered Rozhdestvom)

'The Night Before Christmas' is a truly magical story! It's part of the collection 'Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka.' A good book is like a treasure; we always return to it, even though we've known it since school. Gogol touches on the eternal questions of the struggle between good and evil, which rages through the human heart. The protagonist, Vakula, overcomes evil forces with his faith in God, his hope for the help of all the saints, and his burning love for the village beauty, Oksana. This vivid contrast was captured in her illustrations by the talented young artist Lyusya Varlamova, winner of the 2021 Image of the Book Award. A strong approach to the classic text is faithful to the original, while bold perspectives and dynamic compositions highlight the novelty of this classic and its contemporary resonance. This edition, with atmospheric illustrations, Gogol's commentary in the margins, and a glossary at the end, is a true work of book art and will delight all lovers of the timeless classics.