Creatures That Once Were Men by Maksim Gorky: "Creatures That Once Were Men" is a thought-provoking collection of short stories by Maksim Gorky, delving into the lives of ordinary people and the struggles they face in a changing world. Gorky's powerful narratives offer a poignant glimpse into the human condition. Key Aspects of the Book "Creatures That Once Were Men": Human Experience: The collection captures the essence of the human experience, portraying both the joys and hardships of everyday life. Social Realism: "Creatures That Once Were Men" exemplifies Gorky's skill in depicting realistic portrayals of characters and social settings. Empathy and Compassion: The stories evoke empathy and compassion for the struggles and aspirations of ordinary individuals. Maksim Gorky was a celebrated Russian writer and playwright known for his works that shed light on the social conditions of his time. "Creatures That Once Were Men" reflects Gorky's commitment to portraying the human experience with depth and authenticity.

"Creatures that Once Were Men" is a short story by Maxim Gorky about the residents of a lodging house who start a conflict with their landlord, resulting in a rather inhumane outcome. Gorky is arguably one of the most celebrated literary characters of the 20th century. Painting a vivid image of the dark, grueling and cruel peasant life of 20th century Russia, "Creatures that One Were Men" is a daunting and comical commentary on social injustice that has touched people across the world. Maxim Gorky (1868-1936) has its place among the most talented and original Russian modern writers. A five-time Nobel Prize nominee, Gorky’s position in Russian literature is undisputable. He led a turbulent life of an exile, a dissenter, and a Bolshevik associate, which severely marked his literary endeavours. A strong supporter of Russia’s political, social, and cultural transformation, Gorky’s name still echoes in the annals of history. His best-known works include "The Lower Depths", "My Childhood,", "Mother", and "Children of the Sun".

Russian writer Maxim Gorky is known for his gritty depictions of life in his home country. In the gripping novella "Creatures That Once Were Men," he conveys an unforgettable portrait of people crushed by the machinations of a system much larger than themselves. Includes an illuminating introduction from beloved English author G.K. Chesterton.

It is certainly a curious fact that so many of the voices of what is called our modern religion have come from countries which are not only simple, but may even be called barbaric. A nation like Norway has a great realistic drama without having ever had either a great classical drama or a great romantic drama. A nation like Russia makes us feel its modern fiction when we have never felt its ancient fiction. It has produced its Gissing without producing its Scott. Everything that is most sad and scientific, everything that is most grim and analytical, everything that can truly be called most modern, everything that can without unreasonableness be called most morbid, comes from these fresh and untried and unexhausted nationalities. Out of these infant peoples come the oldest voices of the earth. This contradiction, like many other contradictions, is one which ought first of all to be registered as a mere fact; long before we attempt to explain why things contradict themselves, we ought, if we are honest men and good critics, to register the preliminary truth that things do contradict themselves. In this case, as I say, there are many possible and suggestive explanations. It may be, to take an example, that our modern Europe is so exhausted that even the vigorous expression of that exhaustion is difficult for every one except the most robust.

A collection of short stories by the popular and influential Russian author, a founder of the socialist realism literary method and arguably the greatest Russian literary figure of the 20th century. He wrote stories, plays, memoirs and novels which touched the imagination of the Russian people, and was the first Russian author to write sympathetically of such characters as tramps and thieves, emphasizing their daily struggles against overwhelming odds.