2012年馬汀授權出版了一套冰與火之歌的地圖集,叫做The Lands of Ice and Fire (http://www.amazon.com/The-Lands-Fire-Game-Thrones/dp/0345538544/)。

《死魂靈》被認為是果戈理一生創作生涯的巔峰之作,它的出現使現實主義在俄羅斯文學中獲得徹底勝利,並開闢了批判現實主義時期。因此,這一時期(十九世紀三、四年代)被車爾尼雪夫斯基稱為俄羅斯文學的「果戈理時期」,而果戈理也獲得了「俄國散文之父」的桂冠。別林斯基當時專門著文論述《死魂靈》,他指出這部作品「既是真實的,又是愛國主義的,它無情地撕下現實身上的外衣,洋溢著對俄國生活熱情的、神經質的愛,帶血緣的愛」。
在1861年3月農奴制改革之前,農奴是地主的私有財產,地主可以隨意處置他們,比如買賣、抵押等。在農奴制下,農奴的生活極度貧困,他們的許多人掙扎在死亡線上。作者小時候即親眼目睹了農奴的悲慘生活,外加受1825年12月十二月黨人起義的影響,使作者很早就形成了為祖國、為人民的思想,這奠定了他日後寫出該作品的基礎。
Selifan was conscious of his neglect of duty; but, as a Russian never likes to acknowledge himself in the wrong before another… (p. 87)
And what Russian does not love fast driving? How could it fail to suit the taste of a man who is always striving for excitement, who delights to roam? (p. 219)
Is it not thus, like the bold troïka which cannot be overtaken, that thou art dashing along, O Russia, my country? (p. 219)
But century after century has passed by in shameful indolence, Russia remains the same… (p. 239)
The point lies here- that we are called upon to save our country; that our fatherland is being ruined, not by the incursions of twenty foreign nations, but by ourselves; that beside the lawful government, another government has been established which is much more powerful than any lawful one… (p. 357)