A message about the work of Gorky. Who was Maxim Gorky: creativity and biography briefly. Useful video: interesting facts from the life of M. Gorky

Maxim Gorky is an eternal rebel who first opposed the tsarist government, and then directed the force of his accusatory anger towards the Soviet Union. And the writer can be understood: neither the arrogant and arrogant monarchy, nor the senseless and merciless communism met his ideas about justice, honor and dignity. But he was not a corrupt mouthpiece of one ideology; he can be called a romantic who made a revolution, but not for himself.

The author's real name is Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov. The pseudonym reflected the bitter fate of the writer. He was born into a poor middle-class family; Gorky's father and mother died early: the breadwinner died of cholera, and his wife of consumption. The boy was raised by his grandmother, but pensions were not paid to ordinary people at that time, and the woman could not support the child on her own. By that time my grandfather was already broke. And Alyosha began to serve, doing whatever he had to: he baked bread, was an assistant “manager” in a store, sold on the street, and even learned to paint icons.

But, having experienced the hardships of people’s life, our rebel saw in faith only the manipulation of the owner, aimed at the workers. He found himself in the revolutionary movement. Already as a teenager, he read a lot and memorized the contents of books well, and therefore Alexey quickly mastered the teachings of German philosophers and amazed certified specialists with his knowledge.

Education and youth

Due to lack of money, the teenager was unable to receive even a secondary education. In order not to die of hunger, he was forced to make a living by stealing firewood, and his classmates teased him for this. One day he heard another insult and left the walls of the parish school for the poor forever.

Without a certificate, Gorky could not apply for higher education, but the author himself did not regret this much, because his strength was self-development, and he despised the race for grades and titles.

In 1884, the young man came to conquer Kazan, but these years became the most difficult in his life: he lost his grandfather and grandmother, was unable to get a job at the university, and experienced his first arrests at revolutionary gatherings. As a result, he even tried to kill himself, twice. But both attempts were prevented by doctors.

Creative path

Life and creativity are closely intertwined for Maxim Gorky. In his youth, he did not believe in himself, wrote with a huge number of errors, and generally did not plan to bind himself to literary boundaries. He brought his first books to the court of the popular writer Korolenko, but Vladimir Galaktionovich sharply criticized them.

Then the young man decided to start traveling around Rus' to learn and see more. In Tiflis, he wrote the story “Makar Chudra” and succumbed to the persuasion of a friend, publishing the work. From then on, critics and writers began to pay attention to him, and the book was a success. Now Korolenko became a mentor to the young author. The early period of Gorky’s work will be called romantic, since then the stories “Old Woman Izergil”, “Chelkash”, etc. came from his pen.

Having found an opportunity for publication in the capital, the rebel becomes a venerable artist of words, making friends with Chekhov and Tolstoy. His creations are especially appreciated by the liberal-minded public, but the authorities are dissatisfied with the popularity of the opposition-minded writer. He is under police supervision, so the right of membership in the Academy of Sciences assigned to him is canceled literally immediately, with just one remark from the tsar. However, arrests and open hostility among the ruling elites only contribute to the growth of the author’s popularity. In 1900-1910, his career flourished; he was successful and rich, but still irreconcilable.

Relations with authorities and emigration

After the events of the October Revolution, the author began to criticize the bloody methods of the Bolsheviks, who were tearing the country apart. He saves many “bourgeois” who now have no place in the Russia of the future, although many of them fought for it. He publishes pamphlets and articles, openly expresses dissatisfaction, for which he receives accusations of corruption. In 1921, relations between Gorky and the party became strained, and only out of old friendship was he allowed to go abroad. From there he again sent notes of protest, defending the next prisoners, but his opinion was not listened to.

In 1928, the legendary writer was invited to the USSR, he visited many cities and met Stalin. During the trip, the author discovered positive changes in the country, and a year later he was given a mansion on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street and allowed to live in his homeland. In 1932, the author finally returned home, but he was no longer allowed to go to Italy, where he was fleeing consumption. For the remaining years, Gorky headed the publishing house, but published only materials approved by the party. This fact depressed him, but he no longer had the strength to actively fight.

Last years and death

Gorky suffered from consumption throughout his life, and therefore spent many years in a warm and mild climate. In the USSR he was even given a residence in Crimea. However, the illness took its toll, and the writer lost the last crumbs of health, working at a frantic pace in the publishing house and on his last novel, “The Life of Klim Samgin.” He never finished it.

Having contracted the flu from his granddaughters, Gorky fell ill with pastels. His condition never returned to normal, and he died in 1936. He was 69 years old.

1. Gorky was a very loving man, but had only one official wife, Ekaterina Peshkova. She was the mother of all his recognized children.
2. In his youth, the writer suffered from a mental disorder, which manifested itself in suicidal tendencies. He even made two suicide attempts, which he greatly regretted.
3. The author was involved in fundraising and espionage for Lenin and his party. Together with his mistress, he carried out a variety of assignments while abroad. Later, the Soviet government spied on its singer; his former mistress was sent abroad along with Peshkov, who observed the activity of the once beloved man.
4. The writer was a very generous person: he donated money to peasant schools, the national theater, and also populated his apartment with dozens of real residents, whom he fed and supported.
5. To convince Gorky to return to his homeland, Soviet officials even recruited his son.

Maxim Gorky (born March 28, 1868) is an honored Russian writer, prose writer and playwright. For those who don’t know, Maxim Gorky’s real name is Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov. Author of many works with revolutionary themes.

His life deserves special attention, as it is a worthy example for young people. Despite many difficulties and hardships, he was able to glorify his name and gain recognition not only in Russia, but also abroad.

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Chronological table of the biography of Maxim Gorky

Briefly about childhood

This outstanding man was born in Nizhny Novgorod, in an ordinary working-class family. His father was a cabinetmaker. At a young age, he was left an orphan and raised by his grandfather, who had a harsh and despotic disposition. Since childhood, he felt the need and was forced to quit his studies and earn his own living. But this did not stop him from developing and learning independently.

The only outlet for him was his grandmother’s soulful poems. It was she who contributed to the literary talent of her grandson. In his notes, the writer very rarely mentions his grandmother, but these words are filled with warmth and tenderness.

At the age of 11, he decided to leave his grandfather’s house and go free. Wherever he worked, trying to somehow feed himself. He worked as an errand boy in a shoe store, as a helper for a draftsman, and as a cook on a steamship. When he turned 15, he took the risk of entering Kazan University. This attempt was unsuccessful, because the young man had no financial support.

Kazan did not greet him very friendly. There he experienced life in its lowest manifestations. He ate whatever he could, lived in slums, and interacted with the lower strata of society. Because of this, he decided to commit suicide.

His next destination was Tsaritsyn. He worked there for some time on the railway. Then he contracted as a scribe to the attorney-at-law M.A. Lapin. This man played an important role in his fate.

Maxim’s restless disposition did not allow him to sit in one place and he decided to go on a trip to the south of Russia. Having tried many different professions, he expanded his knowledge base. In his wanderings on foot, he never ceased to propagate revolutionary ideas. This is what led to his arrest in 1888.

The beginning of literary creativity

The first story of M. Gorky"Makar Chudra" was published in 1892. Returning to his hometown, he met the writer V.G. Korolenko, who made a significant contribution to the fate of the writer.

Fame came to him in 1898, after the publication of the work “Essays and Stories.” His creations began to enjoy popularity not only in Russia, but also abroad. The list of Gorky's novels includes the following:

• "Mother",
• "The Artamonov Case"
• "Foma Gordeev"
• "Three" and others.

The most famous were the story “The Old Woman Izergil”, the plays “At the Lower Depths”, “Bourgeois”, “Enemies” and others.

Since 1901 M. Gorky was constantly at gunpoint police, as he carried out propaganda of the revolutionary movement. In 1906 he was forced to leave his homeland and went to Europe and the USA. The main thing is that even there he did not stop defending the revolution, expressing this in his work. He lived on the island of Capri for about seven years, where he did not stop writing. The following works appeared there:

• "Confession";
• “The life of an unnecessary person”;
• "Tales of Italy."

At the same time, he underwent treatment. During the same period of time, the novel “Mother” appeared.

After the October riot in 1917, Maxim Gorky became the first chairman of the Union of Writers of the USSR. Under his protection were everyone who was persecuted by the new government.

Last years

In 1921, the writer health has deteriorated sharply, tuberculosis worsened. He had to go abroad for treatment. There is information that Lenin strongly insisted on this departure. Perhaps this was due to the growing ideological contradictions in the writer’s opposition. At first he lived in Germany, from there he moved to the Czech Republic and Italy.

In 1928, Stalin himself invited M. Gorky to celebrate his 60th birthday. A grand reception was held in honor of this event. He was taken to many regions of the Soviet Union, demonstrating the achievements of the Soviet people. In 1932, the writer returned to Russia for good.

Despite a serious and debilitating illness, Alexey Maksimovich tirelessly continues to work in newspapers and magazines. At the same time, he was intensely busy with the novel “The Life of Klim Samgin,” which he never completed.

There was also no stability in the personal life of Maxim Gorky. He was married several times. The first marriage took place with Ekaterina Pavlovna Volzhina. They had a daughter who died in infancy. The second child was a son, Maxim Peshkov. Was a free artist. He died shortly before the death of his father. This was a surprise to everyone, which gave rise to many rumors about the possibility of a violent death.

For the second time, Gorky married the actress and associate of the revolutionary movement, Maria Andreeva. The last woman in his life was Maria Ignatievna Burdberg. This person had a dubious reputation among the people because of his turbulent life.

An interesting fact is that after the writer's death, they decided to study his brain in more detail. Scientists from the Moscow Brain Institute took up this task.

Alexey Peshkov did not receive a real education; he only graduated from a vocational school.

In 1884, the young man came to Kazan with the intention of studying at the university, but did not enter.

In Kazan, Peshkov became acquainted with Marxist literature and propaganda work.

In 1902, the Imperial Academy of Sciences in the category of fine literature. However, the election was annulled by the government because the newly elected academician “was under police surveillance.”

In 1901, Maxim Gorky became the head of the publishing house of the Znanie partnership and soon began publishing collections in which Ivan Bunin, Leonid Andreev, Alexander Kuprin, Vikenty Veresaev, Alexander Serafimovich and others were published.

The play “At the Depths” is considered the pinnacle of his early work. In 1902, it was staged at the Moscow Art Theater by Konstantin Stanislavsky. Stanislavsky, Vasily Kachalov, Ivan Moskvin, Olga Knipper-Chekhova performed in the performances. In 1903, at the Berlin Kleines Theater, the performance "At the Bottom" with Richard Wallentin in the role of Satin took place. Gorky also created the plays "The Bourgeois" (1901), "Summer Residents" (1904), "Children of the Sun", "Barbarians" (both 1905), "Enemies" (1906).

In 1905, he joined the ranks of the RSDLP (Russian Social Democratic Party, Bolshevik wing) and met Vladimir Lenin. Gorky provided financial support to the revolution of 1905-1907.
The writer took an active part in the revolutionary events of 1905, was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, and was released under pressure from the world community.

At the beginning of 1906, Maxim Gorky arrived in America, fleeing persecution by the Russian authorities, where he stayed until the fall. The pamphlets “My Interviews” and the essays “In America” were written here.

Upon returning to Russia in 1906, Gorky wrote the novel "Mother". In the same year, Gorky left Italy for the island of Capri, where he stayed until 1913.

Returning to St. Petersburg, he collaborated with the Bolshevik newspapers Zvezda and Pravda. During this period, the autobiographical stories “Childhood” (1913-1914) and “In People” (1916) were published.

After the October Revolution of 1917, Gorky was actively involved in social activities and participated in the creation of the World Literature publishing house. In 1921 he went abroad again. The writer lived in Helsingfors (Helsinki), Berlin and Prague, and since 1924 - in Sorrento (Italy). In exile, Gorky more than once spoke out against the policies pursued by the Soviet authorities.

The writer was officially married to Ekaterina Peshkova, née Volzhina (1876-1965). The couple had two children - son Maxim (1897-1934) and daughter Katya, who died in childhood.

Later, Gorky tied himself into a civil marriage with actress Maria Andreeva (1868-1953), and then Maria Brudberg (1892-1974).

The writer's granddaughter Daria Peshkova is an actress at the Vakhtangov Theater.

The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources

Alexey Peshkov, known in literary circles as Maxim Gorky, was born in Nizhny Novgorod. Alexei's father died in 1871, when the future writer was only 3 years old, his mother lived only a little longer, leaving her son an orphan at the age of 11. The boy was sent for further care to the family of his maternal grandfather Vasily Kashirin.

It was not the cloudless life in his grandfather’s house that forced Alexei to switch to his own bread from childhood. To earn food, Peshkov worked as a delivery boy, washed dishes, and baked bread. Later, the future writer will talk about this in one of the parts of the autobiographical trilogy called “Childhood.”

In 1884, young Peshkov sought to pass the exams at Kazan University, but was unsuccessful. Difficulties in life, the unexpected death of his grandmother, who was a good friend of Alexei, lead him to despair and attempt suicide. The bullet did not hit the young man’s heart, but this incident doomed him to lifelong respiratory weakness.

In a thirst for changes in the government system, young Alexey contacts the Marxists. In 1888 he was arrested for anti-state propaganda. After his release, the future writer travels, calling this period of his life his “universities.”

The first steps of creativity

Since 1892, having returned to his native place, Alexey Peshkov became a journalist. The young author's first articles are published under the pseudonym Yehudiel Chlamys (from Greek cloak and dagger), but soon the writer comes up with another name for himself - Maxim Gorky. With the word “bitter” the writer strives to show the “bitter” life of the people and the desire to describe the “bitter” truth.

The first work of the master of words was the story “Makar Chudra”, published in 1892. Following him, the world saw other stories “Old Woman Izergil”, “Chelkash”, “Song of the Falcon”, “Former People”, etc. (1895-1897).

Literary rise and popularity

In 1898, the collection “Essays and Stories” was published, which brought Maxim Gorky fame among the masses. The main characters of the stories were the lower classes of society, enduring unprecedented hardships of life. The author depicted the suffering of the “tramps” in the most exaggerated form, in order to create a feigned pathos of “humanity”. In his works, Gorky nurtured the idea of ​​​​the unity of the working class, protecting the social, political and cultural heritage of Russia.

The next revolutionary impulse, openly hostile to tsarism, was the “Song of the Petrel.” As punishment for calling for a fight against the autocracy, Maxim Gorky was expelled from Nizhny Novgorod and recalled from the Imperial Academy. Remaining in close ties with Lenin and other revolutionaries, Gorky wrote the play “At the Lower Depths” and a number of other plays that received recognition in Russia, Europe and the United States. At this time (1904-1921), the writer connected his life with the actress and admirer of Bolshevism Maria Andreeva, breaking ties with his first wife Ekaterina Peshkova.

Abroad

In 1905, after the December armed rebellion, fearing arrest, Maxim Gorky went abroad. Gathering support for the Bolshevik party, the writer visits Finland, Great Britain, the USA, meets famous writers Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt and others. But the trip to America turns out to be not cloudless for the writer, because he soon begins to be accused of supporting local revolutionaries, as well as violating moral rights .

Not daring to go to Russia, from 1906 to 1913 the revolutionary lived on the island of Capri, where he created a new philosophical system, which is vividly depicted in the novel “Confession” (1908).

Return to the Fatherland

An amnesty for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty allowed the writer to return to Russia in 1913. Continuing his active creative and civic activities, Gorky published key parts of the autobiographical trilogy: 1914 - “Childhood”, 1915-1916 - “In People”.

During the First World War and the October Revolution, Gorky's St. Petersburg apartment became the site of regular Bolshevik meetings. But the situation changed dramatically a few weeks after the revolution, when the writer explicitly accused the Bolsheviks, in particular Lenin and Trotsky, of lust for power and false intentions of creating democracy. The newspaper “Novaya Zhizn”, which Gorky published, became the target of censorship persecution.

Along with the prosperity of communism, Gorky's criticism diminished and soon the writer personally met with Lenin, admitting his mistakes.

Staying in Germany and Italy from 1921 to 1932, Maxim Gorky wrote the final part of the trilogy called “My Universities” (1923), and was also treated for tuberculosis.

The last years of the writer's life

In 1934, Gorky was appointed head of the Union of Soviet Writers. As a token of gratitude from the government, he receives a luxurious mansion in Moscow.

In the last years of his work, the writer was closely associated with Stalin, strongly supporting the dictator’s policies in his literary works. In this regard, Maxim Gorky is called the founder of a new movement in literature - socialist realism, which is more associated with communist propaganda than with artistic talent. The writer died on June 18, 1936.

(estimates: 6 , average: 3,17 out of 5)

Name: Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov
Nicknames: Maxim Gorky, Yehudiel Chlamida
Birthday: March 16, 1868
Place of Birth: Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Empire
Date of death: June 18, 1936
A place of death: Gorki, Moscow region, RSFSR, USSR

Biography of Maxim Gorky

Maxim Gorky was born in Nizhny Novgorod in 1868. In fact, the writer’s name was Alexey, but his father was Maxim, and the writer’s last name was Peshkov. The father worked as a simple carpenter, so the family could not be called wealthy. At the age of 7 he went to school, but after a couple of months he had to quit his studies due to smallpox. As a result, the boy received a home education, and he also studied all subjects independently.

Gorky had a rather difficult childhood. His parents died too early, and the boy lived with his grandfather , who had a very difficult character. Already at the age of 11, the future writer set out to earn his living, working part-time in a bread store or in a canteen on a ship.

In 1884, Gorky found himself in Kazan and tried to get an education, but this attempt failed, and he had to work hard again to earn money to feed himself. At the age of 19, Gorky even tries to commit suicide due to poverty and fatigue.

Here he becomes interested in Marxism and tries to agitate. In 1888 he was arrested for the first time. He gets a job at an iron job where the authorities keep a close eye on him.

In 1889, Gorky returned to Nizhny Novgorod and got a job as a clerk for lawyer Lanin. It was during this period that he wrote “The Song of the Old Oak” and turned to Korolenko to evaluate the work.

In 1891, Gorky went to travel around the country. His story “Makar Chudra” was published for the first time in Tiflis.

In 1892, Gorky again travels to Nizhny Novgorod and returns to the service of lawyer Lanin. Here he is already published in many publications in Samara and Kazan. In 1895 he moved to Samara. At this time he actively wrote and his works were constantly published. The two-volume “Essays and Stories,” published in 1898, is in great demand and is very actively discussed and criticized. In the period from 1900 to 1901 he met Tolstoy and Chekhov.

In 1901, Gorky created his first plays “The Bourgeois” and “At the Depths”. They were very popular, and “The Bourgeois” was even staged in Vienna and Berlin. The writer has already become famous internationally. From this moment on, his works are translated into different languages ​​of the world, and he and his works become the object of close attention of foreign critics.

Gorky became a participant in the revolution in 1905, and since 1906 he has left his country due to political events. He has lived on the Italian island of Capri for a long time. Here he writes the novel “Mother”. This work influenced the emergence of a new direction in literature, like socialist realism.

In 1913, Maxim Gorky was finally able to return to his homeland. During this period, he actively worked on his autobiography. He also works as an editor for two newspapers. At the same time, he gathered proletarian writers around him and published a collection of their works.

The period of the revolution in 1917 was controversial for Gorky. As a result, he joins the ranks of the Bolsheviks, even despite doubts and torment. However, he does not support some of their views and actions. In particular, regarding the intelligentsia. Thanks to Gorky, most of the intelligentsia in those days avoided hunger and painful death.

In 1921, Gorky left his country. There is a version that he does this because Lenin was too worried about the health of the great writer, whose tuberculosis had worsened. However, the reason could also be Gorky’s contradictions with the authorities. He lived in Prague, Berlin and Sorrento.

When Gorky turned 60, Stalin himself invited him to the USSR. The writer was given a warm welcome. He traveled around the country, where he spoke at meetings and rallies. They honor him in every possible way and take him to the Communist Academy.

In 1932, Gorky returned to the USSR for good. He is very active in literary activities, organizes the All-Union Congress of Soviet Writers, and publishes a large number of newspapers.

In 1936, terrible news spread throughout the country: Maxim Gorky left this world. The writer caught a cold when he visited his son’s grave. However, there is an opinion that both the son and the father were poisoned because of their political views, but this has never been proven.

Documentary

We bring to your attention a documentary film, a biography of Maxim Gorky.

Bibliography of Maxim Gorky

Novels

1899
Foma Gordeev
1900-1901
Three
1906
Mother (second edition - 1907)
1925
Artamonov case
1925-1936
Life of Klim Samgin

Stories

1908
The life of an unnecessary person
1908
Confession
1909
Okurov town
Life of Matvey Kozhemyakin
1913-1914
Childhood
1915-1916
In people
1923
My universities

Stories, essays

1892
The Girl and Death
1892
Makar Chudra
1895
Chelkash
Old Isergil
1897
Former people
The Orlov couple
Mallow
Konovalov
1898
Essays and stories (collection)
1899
Song of the Falcon (prose poem)
Twenty six and one
1901
Song of the Petrel (prose poem)
1903
Man (prose poem)
1913
Tales of Italy
1912-1917
In Rus' (cycle of stories)
1924
Stories from 1922-1924
1924
Notes from a diary (series of stories)

Plays

1901
Bourgeois
1902
At the bottom
1904
Summer residents
1905
Children of the Sun
Barbarians
1906
Enemies
1910
Vassa Zheleznova (reworked in December 1935)
1915
Old man
1930-1931
Somov and others
1932
Egor Bulychov and others
1933
Dostigaev and others

Journalism

1906
My interviews
In America" ​​(pamphlets)
1917-1918
series of articles “Untimely Thoughts” in the newspaper “New Life”
1922
About the Russian peasantry