 Based on Arab and Russian folklore, but featuring 'modern' characters (with 'character' names like podyachy Bribetakin), these works parodied ways of Russian petty officials, denouncing corruption, bribery and theft.Among his major influences were Gavrila Derzhavin and Nikolai Nikolev, the latter a close friend.It was the latter's anti-tyranny tragedy "Sorena and Zamir" that inspired Gorchakov to write in the late 1880s his pro-democracy, American-based tragedy which remained both untitled and unpublished.