Maxim Gorky

Date of Birth: March 28, 1868

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: June 18, 1936

Biography

Maxim Gorky, born Alexei Maximovich Peshkov on March 28, 1868, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, was a prominent Russian and Soviet writer, a founder of the socialist realism literary method, and a political activist. Gorky experienced a difficult childhood, losing his parents at a young age and being raised by his grandmother. He left home at the age of twelve and wandered across the Russian Empire for several years, working various jobs and gaining a deep understanding of the struggles of the lower classes. Gorky began his literary career in 1892 and quickly gained acclaim for his realistic and often stark depiction of the lives of the poor. His notable works include “The Lower Depths,” “Mother,” “My Childhood,” “In the World,” and “My Universities.” Gorky’s writing was heavily influenced by his own experiences and his political beliefs, and he became a vocal critic of the Tsarist regime. He was also involved in the Russian revolutionary movement and had close ties with Vladimir Lenin and other leading Bolsheviks. After the Russian Revolution, Gorky continued to write and remained an influential figure in Soviet literature and politics. However, he became disillusioned with the Bolshevik government and spent several years in voluntary exile in Europe. He returned to the Soviet Union in the late 1920s and continued to write until his death on June 18, 1936, in Moscow.

5 Interesting Facts about Maxim Gorky

1. Maxim Gorky was nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in Literature but never won.

2. His pseudonym “Gorky” means “bitter” in Russian, reflecting the harsh realities he portrayed in his works.

3. Gorky was a close friend of Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy.

4. He co-founded the famous Moscow Art Theatre with Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.

5. Gorky played a significant role in the development of socialist realism, the officially sanctioned style of literature in the Soviet Union.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Maxim Gorky

1. “The good qualities in human nature—compassion, love, and the desire for justice—are the highest and greatest forces which have ever been and will ever be in the world.”

2. “When work is a pleasure, life is a joy! When work is a duty, life is slavery.”

3. “A good man can be stupid and still be good. But a bad man must have brains.”

4. “Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.”

5. “In the carriages of the past, you can’t go anywhere.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Maxim Gorky’s net worth at the peak of his career is difficult to ascertain due to the different economic systems and the lack of comprehensive financial records. However, he was one of the most well-paid writers in Russia and later the Soviet Union, and he enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle.

Children

Maxim Gorky had three children: 1. Zinovy Peshkov (adopted), who became a French general. 2. Maxim Peshkov, who tragically died in 1934 under mysterious circumstances. 3. Ekaterina Peshkova, who was involved in humanitarian work.