The name of Maxim Gorky is probably familiar to any Russian person. Cities and streets were named after this writer. Soviet time. The outstanding revolutionary prose writer came from common people, self-taught, but the talent he possessed made him world famous. Such nuggets appear once every hundred years. The life story of this man is very instructive, since it clearly shows what a person from the bottom can achieve without any outside support.
Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov (this was the real name of Maxim Gorky) was born in Nizhny Novgorod. This city was renamed in his honor, and only in the 90s of the last century it was given back its original name.
The biography of the future writer began on March 28, 1868. The most important thing that he remembered from childhood, Alexey Maksimovich described in his work “Childhood”. Alyosha's father, whom he barely remembered, worked as a carpenter.
He died of cholera when the boy was very young. Alyosha's mother was pregnant at the time; she gave birth to another son, who died in infancy.
The Peshkov family lived in Astrakhan at that time, because his father had to work in last years his life in the shipping company. However, literary scholars are debating who Maxim Gorky’s father was.
Having taken two children, the mother decided to return to her homeland, to Nizhny Novgorod. There her father, Vasily Kashirin, ran a dyeing workshop. Alexey spent his childhood in his house (now there is a museum there). Alyosha's grandfather was a rather domineering man, had a stern character, and often punished the boy for trifles, using rods. One day Alyosha was whipped so severely that he was confined to bed for a long time. After this, the grandfather repented and asked the boy for forgiveness, treating him with candy.
The autobiography described in the story “Childhood” says that the grandfather’s house was always full of people. Numerous relatives lived in it, everyone was busy with business.
Important! Little Alyosha also had his own obedience; the boy helped dye fabrics. But my grandfather severely punished me for poorly done work.
Alexei’s mother taught him to read, then his grandfather taught his grandson the Church Slavonic language. Despite his stern character, Kashirin was a very religious person and often went to church. He forced Alyosha to go to church almost by force, but the child did not like this activity. He carried the atheistic views that Alyosha showed in childhood throughout his entire life. Therefore, his work was revolutionary; the writer Maxim Gorky in his works often said that “God is made up.”
As a child, Alyosha attended a parish school, but then became seriously ill and left school. Then his mother remarried and took her son to live with her. new house in Kanavino. There the boy went to primary school, but his relationship with the teacher and priest did not work out.
One day, coming home, Alyosha saw a terrible picture: his stepfather was kicking his mother. Then the boy grabbed a knife to intercede. She calmed her son, who was about to kill his stepfather. After this incident, Alexey decided to return to his grandfather's house. By that time the old man was completely broke. Alexey attended a school for poor children for some time, but was kicked out because the young man was unkempt and smelled bad. Alyosha spent most of his time on the street, stealing to feed himself, and finding clothes for himself in a landfill. Therefore, the teenager got involved with a bad company, where he received the nickname “Bashlyk”.
Alexey Peshkov did not study anywhere else, never receiving a secondary education. Despite this, he had strong desire to self-education, independently reading and briefly memorizing the works of many philosophers, such as:
- Nietzsche;
- Hartmann;
- Selly;
- Karo;
- Schopenhauer.
Important! All his life, Alexei Maksimovich Gorky wrote with spelling and grammatical errors, which were corrected by his wife, a proofreader by training.
First independent steps
When Alyosha was 11 years old, her mother died of consumption. The grandfather, having become completely impoverished, was forced to let his grandson go in peace. The old man could not feed the young man and told him to go “to the people.” Alexey found himself alone in this big world. The young man decided to go to Kazan to enter university, but was refused.
Firstly, because that year the enrollment of applicants from the lower strata of society was limited, and secondly, because Alexey did not have a document on secondary education.
Then the young man went to work at the pier. It was then that a meeting took place in Gorky’s life that influenced his further worldview and creativity. He met a revolutionary group, which briefly explained the essence of this progressive teaching. Alexei began attending revolutionary meetings and was engaged in propaganda. Then the young man got a job in a bakery, the owner of which sent income to support revolutionary development in the city.
Alexey has always been a mentally unstable person. Upon learning of the death of his beloved grandmother, the young man fell into serious depressive state. One day, near the monastery, Alexey tried to commit suicide by shooting his lung with a gun. A watchman who witnessed this called the police. The young man was rushed to the hospital and managed to save his life. However, in the hospital, Alexey made a second suicide attempt by swallowing poison from a medical vessel. The young man was saved again by washing his stomach. The psychiatrist diagnosed Alexey with many mental disorders.
Wanderings
Further, the life of the writer Maxim Gorky was no less difficult; in short, we can say that he suffered from various misfortunes. At the age of 20, Alexey was first imprisoned for revolutionary activity. After this, the police conducted constant surveillance of the troubled citizen. Then M. Gorky went to the Caspian Sea, where he worked as a fisherman.
Then he went to Borisoglebsk, where he became a weigher. There he first fell in love with a girl, the boss’s daughter, and even asked for her hand. Having been refused, Alexey, however, remembered his first love all his life. Gorky tried to organize a Tolstoy movement among the peasants, for this he even went to meet Tolstoy himself, but the writer’s wife did not allow the poor man to see the living classic young man.
In the early 90s, Alexey met the writer Korolenko in Nizhny Novgorod. By that time, Peshkov was already writing his first works, one of which he showed famous writer. It is interesting that Korolenko criticized the work of the aspiring writer, but this could not in any way affect his strong desire to write.
Peshkov was then imprisoned again for revolutionary activities. After leaving prison, he decided to travel around Rus', visiting different cities, the Crimea, the Caucasus, and Ukraine. In Tiflis I met a revolutionary who advised me to write down all my adventures. This is how the story “Makar Chudra” appeared, which was published in 1892 in the newspaper “Caucasus”.
Gorky's work
Creativity flourishes
It was then that the writer took the pseudonym Maxim Gorky, hiding his real name. Then several more stories appeared in Nizhny Novgorod newspapers. By that time, Alexey decided to settle in his homeland. All Interesting Facts from Gorky's life were used as the basis for his works. He wrote down the most important things that happened to him, and the results were interesting and truthful stories.
Korolenko again became the mentor of the aspiring writer. Gradually, Maxim Gorky gained popularity among readers. The talented and original author was talked about in literary circles. The writer met Tolstoy and.
In a short period of time, Gorky wrote the most talented works:
- “Old Woman Izergil” (1895);
- "Essays and Stories" (1898);
- "Three", novel (1901);
- "The Bourgeois" (1901);
- (1902).
Interesting! Soon Maxim Gorky was awarded the title of member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, but Emperor Nicholas II personally reversed this decision.
Useful video: Maxim Gorky - biography, life
Moving abroad
In 1906, Maxim Gorky decided to go abroad. He first settled in the United States. Then, for health reasons (he was diagnosed with tuberculosis), he moved to Italy. Here he wrote a lot in defense of the revolution. Then the writer returned to Russia for a short time, but in 1921 he went abroad again due to conflicts with the authorities and worsening illness. He returned to Russia only ten years later.
In 1936, at the age of 68, the writer Maxim Gorky ended his earthly journey. Some saw his death as the poisoning of ill-wishers, although this version was not confirmed. The writer's life was not easy, but filled with varied adventures. On sites where biographies are published different writers, you can see the table chronological events life.
Personal life
M. Gorky had a rather interesting appearance, which can be seen by looking at his photo. He was tall, expressive eyes, thin hands with long fingers, which he waved while talking. He enjoyed success with women, and, knowing this, he knew how to show his attractiveness in the photo.
Alexei Maksimovich had many fans, many of whom he was close to. Maxim Gorky first married in 1896 to Ekaterina Volgina. She gave birth to two children: son Maxim and daughter Katya (died at age five). In 1903, Gorky became involved with actress Ekaterina Andreeva. Without filing a divorce from their first wife, they began to live as husband and wife. He spent many years abroad with her.
In 1920, the writer met Maria Budberg, a baroness, with whom he entered into an intimate relationship; they were together until 1933. There were rumors that she worked for British intelligence.
Gorky had two adopted children: Ekaterina and Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky, the latter became a famous Soviet director and cameraman.
Useful video: interesting facts from the life of M. Gorky
Conclusion
The work of Alexei Maksimovich Gorky made an invaluable contribution to Russian and Soviet literature. It is original, original, amazing in its beauty of words and power, especially considering that the writer was illiterate and uneducated. His works are still admired by his descendants and are studied in high school. The work of this outstanding writer is also known and revered abroad.
1868 - Alexey Peshkov was born in Nizhny Novgorod in the family of a carpenter - Maxim Savvatyevich Peshkov.
1884 – tried to enter Kazan University. Gets acquainted with Marxist literature and propaganda work.
1888 – arrested for connections with N.E. Fedoseev’s circle. Is under constant police surveillance. In October he becomes a watchman at the Dobrinka station in Gryaze-Tsaritsynskaya railway. Impressions from his stay in Dobrinka will serve as the basis for the autobiographical story “The Watchman” and the story “Boredom for the Sake.”
1889 , January - at personal request (complaint in verse), transferred to Borisoglebsk station, then as a weighmaster to Krutaya station.
1891 , spring - went to wander around the country and reached the Caucasus.
1892 – first appeared in print with the story “Makar Chudra”. Returning to Nizhny Novgorod, he publishes reviews and feuilletons in Volzhsky Vestnik, Samara Gazeta, Nizhny Novgorod Listok, etc.
1897 – "Former people", "The Orlov Spouses", "Malva", "Konovalov".
1897, October - mid-January 1898 - lives in the village of Kamenka (now the city of Kuvshinovo, Tver region) in the apartment of his friend N.Z. Vasiliev, who worked at the Kamensk paper factory and led an illegal workers' Marxist circle. Life impressions of this period served as material for the novel “The Life of Klim Samgin.”
1898 – the publishing house of Dorovatsky and A.P. Charushnikov releases the first volume of Gorky’s works “Essays and Stories” in a circulation of 3,000 copies.
1899 - novel "Foma Gordeev".
1900–1901 – novel “Three”, personal acquaintance with Chekhov, Tolstoy.
1900–1913 – participates in the work of the publishing house "Znanie".
1901
, March - “Song of the Petrel” was created in Nizhny Novgorod. Participation in Marxist workers' circles in Nizhny Novgorod, Sormovo, St. Petersburg, wrote a proclamation calling for the fight against autocracy. Arrested and expelled from Nizhny Novgorod.
Turns to dramaturgy. Creates the play "The Bourgeois".
1902 - play "At the Bottom". Elected honorary member Imperial Academy Sci. But before Gorky could exercise his new rights, his election was annulled by the government, since the writer “was under police surveillance.”
1904–1905
- plays "Summer Residents", "Children of the Sun", "Barbarians". Meeting Lenin. He was arrested for a revolutionary proclamation in connection with the execution on January 9, but then released under public pressure. Participant in the revolution 1905-1907
In the fall of 1905 he joined the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party.
1906
– travels abroad, creates satirical pamphlets about the “bourgeois” culture of France and the USA (“My Interviews”, “In America”).
The play "Enemies", the novel "Mother". Due to tuberculosis, Gorky settled in Italy on the island of Capri, where he lived for 7 years.
1907
- Delegate to the V Congress of the RSDLP.
1908 – play “The Last”, story “The Life of an Useless Person”.
1909 – stories “Town of Okurov”, “Life of Matvey Kozhemyakin”.
1913 - edits the Bolshevik newspapers "Zvezda" and "Pravda", the art department of the Bolshevik magazine "Prosveshchenie", publishes the first collection of proletarian writers. Writes "Tales of Italy".
1912–1916 - creates a series of stories and essays that make up the collection “Across Rus'”, autobiographical stories “Childhood”, “In People”. The last part of the trilogy “My Universities” was written in 1923.
1917–1919 – carries out extensive social and political work.
1921 – M. Gorky’s departure abroad.
1921–1923 – lives in Helsingfors, Berlin, Prague.
1924 – lives in Italy, in Sorrento. Published memoirs about Lenin.
1925 - the novel “The Artamonov Case”, begins to write the novel “The Life of Klim Samgin”, which was never finished.
1928 - at the invitation of the Soviet government, makes a trip around the country, during which Gorky is shown the achievements of the USSR, depicted by the writer in the series of essays “Around the Soviet Union.”
1931 – visits the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp.
1932
– returns to Soviet Union. Under the leadership of Gorky, many newspapers and magazines were created: the book series “History of Factories and Works”, “History civil war", "Poet's Library", "The Story of a Young Man XIX century", magazine "Literary studies".
The play "Egor Bulychev and others."
1933 - play "Dostigaev and others".
1934 – Gorky conducts I All-Union Congress Soviet writers, delivers the keynote address.
Russian writer, prose writer, playwright Maksim Gorky(Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov) was born in 1868. Despite the fame of the writer, Gorky’s biography, especially in childhood, is full of uncertainties. His father, Maxim Savvatievich Peshkov (1840-1871), came from the bourgeoisie of the Perm province. Gorky’s grandfather, Savvaty Peshkov, was a man of tough character: he rose to the rank of officer, but for cruel treatment of his subordinates he was demoted and exiled to Siberia. His attitude towards his son Maxim was no better, which is why he ran away from home several times. At the age of 17, he left home forever - after that, the son and father did not see each other again. Maxim Peshkov was talented, creative person. He learned the craft of cabinet-making, settled in Nizhny Novgorod and began working as a carpenter at the shipping company of I. S. Kolchin. Here he married Varvara Vasilyevna Kashirina (1842-1879), who came from a family of Nizhny Novgorod merchants. Only the mother of the bride, Akulina Ivanovna, gave consent to the marriage, but the father, Vasily Vasilyevich Kashirin, did not give consent, but then reconciled. In the spring of 1871, Maxim Peshkov left with his family for Astrakhan, where he began working as manager of the Astrakhan office of the Kolchin Shipping Company. In the summer of 1871, Maxim Savvatievich, while nursing Alyosha, who was sick with cholera, became infected himself and died. Varvara Vasilievna with her son and mother returned to Nizhny Novgorod to her father’s house.
Gorky's grandfather, Vasily Vasilyevich Kashirin, was a barge hauler in his youth, then became rich and became the owner of a dyeing workshop. At one time, he was the foreman of the dyeing shop, and was elected as a member of the Nizhny Novgorod Duma. In addition to Gorky’s grandfather, his two sons lived in the house with their families. Better times passed for the Kashirin family - due to factory production, the business was in decline. In addition, the Kashirin family was not friendly. They lived as if in war, and Alyosha Peshkov was only a burden there. Gorky believed that his mother did not love him, considering him the culprit of misfortunes, and therefore moved away from him. She began to arrange her personal life and remarried. Only the grandmother, Akulina Ivanovna, treated Alyosha with kindness. She replaced his mother and supported her grandson as best she could. It was his grandmother who gave him love for folk songs and fairy tales. The grandfather, despite his complex character, taught the boy to read and write at the age of six using church books. In 1877-1879, Alyosha Peshkov successfully studied at the Nizhny Novgorod Slobodsk Kanavinsky Primary School. In August 1879, his mother died of consumption. By that time, the grandfather was completely broke and sent his 11-year-old grandson “to the people.”
“In People” Alexey Peshkov changed many occupations: he worked as a “boy” in a shoe store, as a boatman on a steamship, was in service, caught birds, was a salesman in an icon shop, a student in an icon-painting workshop, an extra in a theater at the Nizhny Novgorod fair, a foreman in repairs fair buildings, etc. While working on the Dobry steamship, Alexei Peshkov’s boss was a cook - retired guards non-commissioned officer Mikhail Smury, who noticed the boy’s curiosity and awakened in him a love of reading. Books in many ways saved Alexei Peshkov from an evil, unjust world and helped him understand a lot. Despite early hardships and suffering, he managed to maintain his love of life. Subsequently, M. Gorky wrote: “I did not expect outside help and did not hope for a happy occasion... I realized very early that a person is created by his resistance to the environment.”
In 1884, Alexey Peshkov went to enter Kazan University. He returned to Nizhny Novgorod in 1889 and lived here intermittently until 1904. In 1913-1914 M. Gorky wrote autobiographical story"Childhood".
In Nizhny Novgorod there is A. M. Gorky’s Museum of Childhood “Kashirin’s House”. Alyosha Peshkov began living in this house at the end of August 1871, after arriving with his mother from Astrakhan. In the spring of 1872, Gorky's grandfather divided the property between his sons, and the house remained with his son Yakov. Vasily Vasilyevich himself, with his wife Akulina Ivanovna and grandson Alyosha, moved to live in another house. The Museum of Childhood of A. M. Gorky reproduces the original furnishings of the Kashirin family home.
The great Russian writer Maxim Gorky (Peshkov Alexey Maksimovich) was born on March 16, 1868 in Nizhny Novgorod - died on June 18, 1936 in Gorki. IN early age“went public,” in his own words. He lived hard, spent the night in the slums among all sorts of rabble, wandered, subsisting on an occasional piece of bread. He covered vast territories, visited the Don, Ukraine, the Volga region, Southern Bessarabia, the Caucasus and Crimea.
Start
He was actively involved in social and political activities, for which he was arrested more than once. In 1906 he went abroad, where he began to successfully write his works. By 1910, Gorky had gained fame, his work aroused great interest. Earlier, in 1904, they began to publish critical articles, and then the book “About Gorky”. Gorky's works interested politicians and public figures. Some of them believed that the writer interpreted events taking place in the country too freely. Everything that Maxim Gorky wrote, works for the theater or journalistic essays, short stories or multi-page stories, caused a resonance and was often accompanied by anti-government protests. During the First World War, the writer took an openly anti-militarist position. greeted him enthusiastically, and turned his apartment in Petrograd into a meeting place for political figures. Often Maxim Gorky, whose works became more and more topical, gave reviews of his own work in order to avoid misinterpretation.
Abroad
In 1921, the writer went abroad to undergo treatment. For three years, Maxim Gorky lived in Helsinki, Prague and Berlin, then moved to Italy and settled in the city of Sorrento. There he began publishing his memoirs about Lenin. In 1925 he wrote the novel “The Artamonov Case.” All of Gorky's works of that time were politicized.
Return to Russia
The year 1928 became a turning point for Gorky. At Stalin's invitation, he returns to Russia and for a month moves from city to city, meets people, gets acquainted with achievements in industry, and observes how socialist construction develops. Then Maxim Gorky leaves for Italy. However, the next year (1929) the writer came to Russia again and this time visited the Solovetsky special-purpose camps. The reviews are the most positive. Alexander Solzhenitsyn mentioned this trip of Gorky in his novel
The writer's final return to the Soviet Union occurred in October 1932. Since that time, Gorky has lived in his former dacha in Spiridonovka in Gorki, and goes to Crimea on vacation.
First Writers' Congress
After some time, the writer receives a political order from Stalin, who entrusts him with preparing the 1st Congress of Soviet Writers. In light of this order, Maxim Gorky creates several new newspapers and magazines, publishes book series on the history of Soviet plants and factories, the civil war and some other events of the Soviet era. At the same time he wrote plays: “Egor Bulychev and others”, “Dostigaev and others”. Some of Gorky's works, written earlier, were also used by him in preparing the first congress of writers, which took place in August 1934. At the congress it was mainly decided organizational matters, the leadership of the future Union of Writers of the USSR was elected, writing sections were created by genre. Gorky's works were also ignored at the 1st Congress of Writers, but he was elected chairman of the board. Overall, the event was considered successful, and Stalin personally thanked Maxim Gorky for his fruitful work.
Popularity
M. Gorky, whose works for many years caused fierce controversy among the intelligentsia, tried to take part in the discussion of his books and especially theatrical plays. From time to time, the writer visited theaters, where he could see with his own eyes that people were not indifferent to his work. And indeed, for many, the writer M. Gorky, whose works were understandable to the common man, became a guide to a new life. Theater audiences went to the performance several times, read and re-read books.
Gorky's early romantic works
The writer's work can be divided into several categories. Gorky's early works are romantic and even sentimental. They do not yet feel the harshness of political sentiments that permeate the writer’s later stories and tales.
The writer's first story "Makar Chudra" is about gypsy fleeting love. Not because it was fleeting, because “love came and went,” but because it lasted only one night, without a single touch. Love lived in the soul without touching the body. And then the death of the girl at the hands of her beloved, the proud gypsy Rada passed away, and behind her Loiko Zobar himself - they floated across the sky together, hand in hand.
Amazing plot, incredible storytelling power. The story "Makar Chudra" became long years business card Maxim Gorky, firmly taking first place in the list " early works Gorky".
The writer worked a lot and fruitfully in his youth. Early romantic works Gorky is a cycle of stories whose heroes are Danko, Sokol, Chelkash and others.
A short story about spiritual excellence makes you think. "Chelkash" - a story about common man, carrying high aesthetic feelings. Fleeing from home, vagrancy, meeting of two - one is doing his usual thing, the other is brought by chance. Gavrila's envy, mistrust, readiness for submissive servility, fear and servility are contrasted with Chelkash's courage, self-confidence, and love of freedom. However, Chelkash is not needed by society, unlike Gavrila. Romantic pathos is intertwined with tragic. The description of nature in the story is also shrouded in a flair of romance.
In the stories "Makar Chudra", "Old Woman Izergil" and, finally, in "Song of the Falcon" the motivation for the "madness of the brave" can be traced. The writer places the characters in difficult conditions and then, beyond any logic, leads them to the finale. What makes the work of the great writer interesting is that the narrative is unpredictable.
Gorky's work "Old Woman Izergil" consists of several parts. The character of her first story, the son of an eagle and a woman, the sharp-eyed Larra, is presented as an egoist, incapable of high feelings. When he heard the maxim that one inevitably has to pay for what one takes, he expressed disbelief, declaring that “I would like to remain unharmed.” People rejected him, condemning him to loneliness. Larra's pride turned out to be destructive for himself.
Danko is no less proud, but he treats people with love. Therefore, he obtains the freedom necessary for his fellow tribesmen who trusted him. Despite the threats of those who doubt that he is capable of leading the tribe out, the young leader continues on his way, taking people along with him. And when everyone’s strength was running out, and the forest still did not end, Danko tore open his chest, took out his burning heart and with its flame illuminated the path that led them to the clearing. The ungrateful tribesmen, having broken free, did not even look in Danko’s direction when he fell and died. People ran away, trampled on the flaming heart as they ran, and it scattered into blue sparks.
Gorky's romantic works leave an indelible mark on the soul. Readers empathize with the characters, the unpredictability of the plot keeps them in suspense, and the ending is often unexpected. In addition, Gorky’s romantic works are distinguished by deep morality, which is unobtrusive, but makes you think.
The theme of individual freedom dominates early work writer. The heroes of Gorky's works are freedom-loving and are ready to even give their lives for the right to choose their own destiny.
Poem "The Girl and Death" - shining example self-sacrifice in the name of love. young, full of life a girl makes a deal with death for one night of love. She is ready to die in the morning without regret, just to meet her beloved again.
The king, who considers himself omnipotent, dooms the girl to death only because, returning from the war, he was in a bad mood and did not like her happy laughter. Death spared Love, the girl remained alive and the “bony one with a scythe” no longer had power over her.
Romance is also present in “Song of the Storm Petrel”. The proud bird is free, it is like black lightning, rushing between the gray plain of the sea and the clouds hanging over the waves. Let the storm blow stronger, the brave bird is ready to fight. But it is important for the penguin to hide his fat body in the rocks; he has a different attitude towards the storm - no matter how he soaks his feathers.
Man in Gorky's works
The special, sophisticated psychologism of Maxim Gorky is present in all his stories, while the individual is always given the main role. Even the homeless tramps, the characters of the shelter, are presented by the writer as respected citizens, despite their plight. In Gorky’s works, man is placed at the forefront, everything else is secondary - the events described, the political situation, even actions government agencies are in the background.
Gorky's story "Childhood"
The writer tells the life story of the boy Alyosha Peshkov, as if on his own behalf. The story is sad, it begins with the death of the father and ends with the death of the mother. Left an orphan, the boy heard from his grandfather, the day after his mother’s funeral: “You are not a medal, you shouldn’t hang around my neck... Go join the people...”. And he kicked me out.
This is how Gorky's work "Childhood" ends. And in the middle there were several years of living in the house of my grandfather, a lean little old man who used to flog everyone who was weaker than him on Saturdays. And the only people inferior to his grandfather in strength were his grandchildren living in the house, and he beat them backhand, placing them on the bench.
Alexey grew up, supported by his mother, and hung in the house thick fog enmity of everyone with everyone. The uncles fought among themselves, threatened the grandfather that they would kill him too, the cousins drank, and their wives did not have time to give birth. Alyosha tried to make friends with the neighboring boys, but their parents and other relatives were in such complicated relationships with his grandfather, grandmother and mother that the children could only communicate through a hole in the fence.
"At the bottom"
In 1902, Gorky turned to philosophical topic. He created a play about people who, by the will of fate, sank to the very bottom Russian society. The writer depicted several characters, the inhabitants of the shelter, with frightening authenticity. At the center of the story are homeless people on the verge of despair. Some are thinking about suicide, others are hoping for the best. M. Gorky's work "At the Lower Depths" is a vivid picture of social and everyday disorder in society, which often turns into tragedy.
The owner of the shelter, Mikhail Ivanovich Kostylev, lives and does not know that his life is constantly under threat. His wife Vasilisa persuades one of the guests, Vaska Pepel, to kill her husband. This is how it ends: the thief Vaska kills Kostylev and goes to prison. The remaining inhabitants of the shelter continue to live in an atmosphere of drunken revelry and bloody fights.
After some time, a certain Luka appears, a projector and a blabbermouth. He “fills up” for no reason, conducts lengthy conversations, promises everyone indiscriminately a happy future and complete prosperity. Then Luke disappears, and the unfortunate people whom he encouraged are at a loss. There was severe disappointment. A forty-year-old homeless man, nicknamed Actor, commits suicide. The rest are not far from this either.
Nochlezhka as a symbol of the dead end of Russian society late XIX century, an undisguised ulcer of the social structure.
The works of Maxim Gorky
- "Makar Chudra" - 1892. A story of love and tragedy.
- "Grandfather Arkhip and Lenka" - 1893. A poor, sick old man and with him his grandson Lenka, a teenager. First, the grandfather cannot withstand adversity and dies, then the grandson dies. Good people The unfortunates were buried along the road.
- "Old Woman Izergil" - 1895. Some stories from an old woman about selfishness and selflessness.
- "Chelkash" - 1895. A story about "an inveterate drunkard and a clever, brave thief."
- "The Orlov Spouses" - 1897. A story about a childless couple who decided to help sick people.
- "Konovalov" - 1898. The story of how Alexander Ivanovich Konovalov, arrested for vagrancy, hanged himself in a prison cell.
- "Foma Gordeev" - 1899. A story about the events of the late 19th century that took place in the Volga city. About a boy named Thomas, who considered his father a fabulous robber.
- "Bourgeois" - 1901. A story about bourgeois roots and the new spirit of the times.
- "At the Bottom" - 1902. A poignant, topical play about homeless people who have lost all hope.
- "Mother" - 1906. A novel on the theme of revolutionary sentiments in society, about events taking place within a manufacturing factory, with the participation of members of the same family.
- "Vassa Zheleznova" - 1910. The play is about a youthful 42-year-old woman, the owner of a shipping company, strong and powerful.
- "Childhood" - 1913. A story about a simple boy and his far from simple life.
- "Tales of Italy" - 1913. Cycle short stories on the topic of life in Italian cities.
- "Passion-face" - 1913. Short story about a deeply unhappy family.
- "In People" - 1914. A story about an errand boy in a fashionable shoe store.
- "My Universities" - 1923. The story of Kazan University and students.
- "Blue Life" - 1924. A story about dreams and fantasies.
- "The Artamonov Case" - 1925. A story about the events taking place at a woven fabric factory.
- "The Life of Klim Samgin" - 1936. Events of the beginning of the 20th century - St. Petersburg, Moscow, barricades.
Every story, novel or novel you read leaves an impression of high literary skill. The characters carry whole line unique features and characteristics. The analysis of Gorky's works involves comprehensive characteristics of the characters followed by a summary. The depth of the narrative is organically combined with complex but understandable literary devices. All works of the great Russian writer Maxim Gorky were included in the Golden Fund of Russian Culture.
Alexey Peshkov, better known under the pseudonym Maxim Gorky, is one of the most influential and famous writers THE USSR.
He managed to walk all the way to the Caucasus. During his travels, Gorky received a lot of impressions, which in the future will be reflected in his biography in general, and his work in particular.
Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov
The real name of Maxim Gorky is Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov. The pseudonym “Maxim Gorky,” by which most readers know him, first appeared on September 12, 1892 in the Tiflis newspaper “Caucasus” in the caption to the story “Makar Chudra.”
An interesting fact is that Gorky had another pseudonym with which he sometimes signed his works: Yehudiel Chlamida.
Special signs Maxim Gorky Abroad
Having gained a certain fame, Gorky travels to America, and after that to Italy. His moves have nothing to do with politics, but are dictated solely by family circumstances.
To be fair, it must be said that Gorky’s entire biography is permeated with constant trips abroad.
Only towards the end of his life did he stop constantly traveling.
While traveling, Gorky actively wrote books of a revolutionary nature. In 1913 he returned to Russian Empire and settled in St. Petersburg, working in various publishing houses.
It is interesting that although the writer himself had Marxist views, by the Great October revolution he was quite skeptical.
After the end of the civil war, Peshkov again went abroad due to disagreements with the new government. Only in 1932 did he finally and irrevocably return to his homeland.
Creation
In 1892, Maxim Gorky published his famous story"Makar Chudra". However, his two-volume collection “Essays and Stories” brought him real fame.
It is curious that the circulation of his works was three times higher than the circulation of other writers. From his pen, one after another, the stories “Old Woman Izergil”, “Twenty-Six and One”, “Former People”, as well as the poems “Song of the Petrel” and “Song of the Falcon” came out.
In addition to serious stories, Maxim Gorky also wrote works for children. He owns many fairy tales. The most famous among them are “Samovar”, “Tales of Italy”, “Sparrow” and many others.
Gorky and Tolstoy, 1900 As a result, Maria lived with him for 16 years, although their marriage was not officially registered. The busy schedule of the sought-after actress forced Gorky to travel to Italy and the United States of America several times.
It is interesting that before meeting Gorky, Andreeva already had children: a son and a daughter. As a rule, the writer was involved in their upbringing.
Immediately after the revolution, Maria Andreeva became seriously interested in party activities. Because of this, she practically stopped paying attention to her husband and children.
As a result, in 1919, relations between them suffered a crushing fiasco.
Gorky openly told Andreeva that he was leaving for his secretary, Maria Budberg, with whom he would live for 13 years, and also in a “civil marriage.”
The writer's friends and relatives were aware that this secretary had whirlwind romances on the side. In principle, this is understandable, because she was 24 years younger than her husband.
So, one of her lovers was the famous English writer – H.G. Wells. After Gorky's death, Andreeva immediately moved in with Wells.
There is an opinion that Maria Budberg, who had a reputation as an adventurer and collaborated with the NKVD, could well be double agent(as), working for both Soviet and British intelligence.
Death of Gorky
The last years of his life, Maxim Gorky worked in a variety of publishing houses. Everyone considered it an honor to publish such a famous and popular writer, whose authority was indisputable.
In 1934, Gorky held the First All-Union Congress of Soviet Writers, and gave the main report at it. His biography and literary activity are considered the standard for young talents.
In the same year, Gorky acted as co-editor of the book “The White Sea-Baltic Canal named after Stalin.” Alexander Solzhenitsyn described this work as “the first book in Russian literature glorifying slave labor.”
When Gorky’s beloved son unexpectedly died, the writer’s health took a sharp turn. During his next visit to the grave of the deceased, he caught a serious cold.
For 3 weeks he was tormented by a fever, due to which he died on June 18, 1936. It was decided to cremate the body of the great proletarian writer and place the ashes in the Kremlin wall on Red Square. An interesting fact is that before cremation, Gorky’s brain was removed for scientific research.
The mystery of death
In more later years Increasingly, the question began to be raised that Gorky was deliberately poisoned. Among the suspects was people's commissar Genrikh Yagoda, who was in love and had a relationship with Gorky's wife.
Leon Trotsky and . During the period of repression and the sensational “Doctors' Case,” three doctors were accused of Gorky's death.
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