Childhood

Author: Maxim Gorky
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: At the age of three, Alyosha's father died of cholera, and his mother took him to live with his grandmother's family. In this household, father and son, brothers, and spouses engaged in constant scheming and conflicts, often fighting over property or even over trivial matters. The grandfather was moody and irritable, brutally beating his grandmother and Alyosha to the point of unconsciousness. The grandmother was deeply loving toward Alyosha, telling him legends, fairy tales, and folk stories, enduring all the hardships of life without complaint. Alyosha's mother was forced to remarry and passed away several years later from tuberculosis. After the grandfather's bankruptcy, Alyosha was forced to fend for himself and began to live independently. This book authentically depicts Alyosha's difficult childhood, vividly portraying the vulgar, empty, and tedious life of the petty bourgeoisie in 19th-century Russia, while also showcasing the integrity, simplicity, and diligence of the working class. The image of the grandmother in the book is one of the most brilliant and poetic figures in Russian literature. This book is part of Gorky's autobiographical trilogy and is also his most devoted and captivating work.