Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky

Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky

The first of Russia's great proletarian writers, Alexey Maximovich Peshkov (1868-1936) adopted the pen name of Gorky, meaning bitter. Drawing on his own experiences in the lowest social echelon, Gorky portrayed the wretched lives of down-and-outers, instilling his tales with heartfelt protest against a world that both tolerated and fostered the miseries of the underclass.
In The Lower Depths, his dramatic masterpiece of 1902, Gorky presents a grimly realistic view of a desperate circle of lost souls. The play unfolds in a derelict boarding house, where a cast of despairing characters argue, play cards, tell stories, and debate the merits of two opposite worldviews: a self-reliant existence free of illusions, or a romanticized outlook that softens the pain of daily life. A revealing look at the atmosphere that led to the 1917 Russian Revolution, the drama abounds in shrewd observations, lifelike characters, and compelling dialog that make it a work of enduring vitality.

Maxim Gorky (1868 - 1936), imprisoned for his revolutionary efforts and championed by Chekhov, had his first plays presented by the Moscow Art Theater in 1902. 'Gorky is the first in Russia and the world at large to have expressed disgust and loathing for the petty bourgeoisie, and he has done it at precisely the moment when Russia is ready for rebellion,' Chekhov wrote.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780486411156
ISBN 10	048641115X
Title	Lower Depths
Author	Maxim Gorky
Series	Dover Thrift Editions: Plays Ser
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Dover Publications Inc.
Year published	2016-05-18
Number of pages	80
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.