The least known, "unusual" book by Nikolai Gogol (first published 1847), which was usually omitted in Gogol's collected works published in the Soviet times, gives in the guidelines for the self-improvement of the Russian "race" and presents in a nutshell the trial and error method of the Russian civilisational development. Most of the later Russian writers and thinkers used to keep this Gogol's work in mind, and the themes described in it are still actively disputed. The place of Russia in the family of nations, the mission of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the tasks of Russian spiritual and political leaders are questions that remain open 155 years after the Gogol finished his "Selected Passages from Correspondence".

Built, as the title says, in a form of a series of letters, it is a collection of essays on topics from "What is a governor's wife " to "On Odissey being translated by [poet V.A.] Zhukovski." The main idesa is-- moral improvement of Russian elite ("...be humble, use to wear same dress to three, four, five parties and balls!" or "... Don't punch the peasant in the face, have {...} some imaginative curses for him instead"), following the Christian principles and love to their motherland-- Russia.

It seems the great classic wrote all that in vain, as I can guess living in the Russian protectorate-- Republic of Belarus, and visiting Russia often. Nevertheless, this work retrospectively sums up the searchings and custings of Russian and Russian-influenced intelligentsia for the last century and a half.