Which writers admired Nikolay Gogol early in his career?

Early in his career, Nikolay Gogol achieved rapid fame, and his work was met with significant admiration from several prominent figures in the Russian literary world. Among his first and most notable admirers were the poets Aleksandr Pushkin and Vasily Zhukovsky.1

This esteem was soon shared by other influential contemporaries, including the writer Sergey Aksakov and the eminent literary critic Vissarion Belinsky. Belinsky, in particular, played a crucial role in establishing Gogol's early reputation through his perceptive critical praise, viewing Gogol's work as a vital contribution to Russian literature's need to reflect reality. Gogol’s association with Pushkin was especially valuable to him, as he trusted Pushkin's taste and criticism, and even received themes for his major works from the poet.12