May Night is part of the famous collection of stories Evenings on a Farm Near Dikan'ka, the early creation of Gogol's which made his name in literature. In this short review we will present some interesting facts about how this book was published and later received by the public. The cycle itself comprises two parts: the first came out in September 1831, the second, a little later - in March 1832. The first part, which immediately attracted critics and readers by its lively style and vivid descriptions, included a dictionary of Ukrainian words with Gogol's own humorous introduction: "Just in case, so that I am not mentioned in any blasphemous way, I here include, in alphabetical order, a list of words that may not be clear for some" A similar introduction preceded the list of typing errors, among which there were also corrections of stylistic omissions: "Do not be angered, sirs, that this book contains more mistakes than my head has white hairs. What can one do? I have never yet had to meddle with the art of printing" On 21 August 1831 Gogol wrote to Pushkin about the publishing on the first part: "The most curious aspect is my rendezvous with the publishing company: as soon as I got through the door all the printing boys began giggling and spitting into their hands hiding their faces and turning away. When I went to see the head publisher, he, after a few artful ways of avoiding my question explained: 'those stories that you have been kind enough to send us from Pavlovsk, are usually extremely amusing and have afforded the boys much amusement.' Hence I have deduced that I am an author to the taste of the lower classes."
In 1832 Gogol conceived a second, revised edition of both parts of the Evenings. Distracted by other literary plans, he soon became less enthusiastic about the idea, and on the first of February 1833 wrote to Pogodin: "You asked about the Evenings of Dikan’ka? They can go to hell. I’m not publishing them. And although the acquisition of money would not have gone amiss, I cannot write or add tales for this purpose. I do not have the talent to work on speculative turns. I have even forgotten that I am the creator of these Evenings and you have just reminded me of this."
Nevertheless Gogol came back to the Evenings. The book was cleared by the censors in 1834, but it only saw the light in the beginning of 1836. The Northern Bee, one of the central literary journals of that time, noting its release, wrote (1836, no. 26): "For two years already our public has been impatiently waiting for the second edition of this wonderful book, which was received with joy at its first appearance". Pushkin welcomed this edition with the words: "Our readers will no doubt remember the impression made on them by the appearance of Evenings on a Farm Near Dikan’ka. All were happy to see this vivid description of the singing and dancing generation, these fresh images of Ukrainian nature, this joy, both innocent and coy. How surprised were we to see a Russian book that made us laugh, - us, those who had not laughed since the times of Fonvizin! We were so grateful to the young author that we readily forgave him the unevenness and incorrectness of his grammar, the disjointedness and improbability of certain stories, leaving all shortcomings for the critics. Since then he has constantly developed and perfected himself. He published Arabesques, where we can find his Nevski Prospect - the most complete of his works. Following that there came Mirgorod, where all have avidly read Old-world Landowners, this humorous, touching idyll, that made us laugh through tears of sadness and tenderness, and Taras Bulba, the opening of which is worthy of Walter Scott. Mr Gogol is still going forward."