The Life of Klim Samgin

Maxim Gorky (1868–1936) — a great Russian writer, poet, playwright, journalist, publisher, and public figure. His real name was Alexei Maximovich Peshkov. The childhood and youth of the writer were difficult: he was raised by his grandfather and grandmother, who,... having gone bankrupt, found themselves in a state of extreme need. Due to the heavy financial situation, Gorky could neither finish school nor enter university. From an early age, he was forced to work hard, enduring mockery from his peers. However, the difficult life path did not break the writer's steadfast beliefs or his passion for literature. He worked meticulously on his texts: striving to convey his thoughts clearly and accurately, the author detailed the characters' personalities, narrative style, and plot of each of his works. After the revolution, Gorky became one of the most published Soviet writers. He headed publishing houses and contributed to the publication of many authors; his opinion was authoritative in literary circles. Aiming to enrich and popularize culture, Gorky initiated the creation of the Union of Soviet Writers and the Literary Institute."The Life of Klim Samgin" is Gorky's last work. The author wrote it over several years until his death, which left the novel unfinished. It tells the story of a representative of the Russian intelligentsia of the pre-revolutionary era, Klim Samgin. Empty and spiritually impoverished, throughout the narrative he plays the role of a thinking, vivid person, desperately trying to prevent the exposure of his true colorless nature. Historical figures appear on the pages of the novel, ideological debates are heard, and the diversity of public sentiments during a period of radical change is demonstrated. Gorky sought to depict forty years of Russian reality as accurately as possible from the 1880s to 1918. The writer claimed that this would be the most significant work among all that had ever come from his pen.The work is illustrated with drawings by a creative collective of artists known as Kukryniksy. People's artists and members of the Academy of Arts of the USSR Mikhail Vasilyevich Kupriyanov (1903–1991), Porfiry Nikitich Krylov (1902–1990), and Nikolai Alexandrovich Sokolov (1903–2000) jointly illustrated the works of such literary classics as Nikolai Gogol, Anton Chekhov, and Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. Their drawings for "Klim Samgin" by Gorky magnificently convey the state of the main character's inner world and the realities of the described era.