Gorky Maxim (1868-1936), writer

Categories / Literature. Book Publishing/Personalia
Categories / Press. Mass Media/Personalia
GORKY Maxim (real name Maxim Peshkov) (1868-1936), writer, playwright, publicist, public figure. First visited St. Petersburg in September–October 1899. In 1900 joined the Znanie Publishing Company; and headed it for over ten years. Here appeared Gorky's first collected works (in 9 volumes; 1905-10), which included the poem Man (1904), plays Petit-Bourgeois (1902), Dacha folk (1904), Children of the Sun (1905), Barbarians, Enemies (both 1906), and others. From 1901-05 Gorky repeatedly visited St. Petersburg. In February - April 1904 lived in Sestroretsk, in May–August 1905 - in his summer house in Kuokkala, in 1904-05 rented a flat together with K. Pyatnitsky at 20/16 Znamenskaya Street (today Vosstania Street). Gorky was actively involved in the January uprising of 1905, resulting in his imprisonment in the St. Peter and Paul Fortress; on 14 February 1905 he was released following numerous protests from Russian and foreign artists. In early 1906 Gorky moved abroad. Following the general amnesty of 1913, returned to Russia, settled in Mustamyaki, rented (prior to his immigration abroad in 1921) a flat in Petrograd (23 Kronverksky Avenue, in 1932-91 M. Gorkogo Avenue; memorial plaque), which became one of the city's cultural and social centres. The Parus Publishing House and Letopis journal, founded by Gorky openly opposed the war, involving many prominent writers and scientists. From April of 1917 until July 1918 he held the post of editor-in-chief of the Novaya Zhizn newspaper, where he published a series of articles, elaborating upon his attitude to the Revolution, warning the Bolsheviks against bloodshed [collected in the book: Revolution and Culture. Article of 1917 (Berlin, 1918) and Untimely reflections. Notes on Revolution and Culture. (Petrograd, 1918)]. After October 1917 actively engaged in the preservation of the cultural legacy and assisted individual writers and scientists; initiated the establishment of the Vsemirnaya Literatura Publishing House (1918) and the Bolshoy Drama Theatre (1919; in 1932-92 M. Gorky Bolshoy Drama Theatre), and helped out in establishing the House of Arts, and activities of the Commission for Improvement of Living Conditions of Scientists. In 1928, 1929, 1931 he visited Leningrad. The St. Petersburg State Library, the House of Scientists, the Pechatny dvor Printing House, a metro station, the House of culture at Stachek Avenue and other are named after Gorky. At the intersection of the Kamennoostrovsky and Kronverksky avenues there is a monument to Gorky (1968, sculptors V. V. Isaeva, М. R. Gabe, architect Е. А. Levinson). .

References: Эвентов И. С. Горький в Петербурге - Ленинграде. Л., 1956; Гречнев В. Я. Горький в Петербурге - Ленинграде. Л., 1968; Максим Горький в воспоминаниях современников: В 2 т. М., 1981.

T. M. Dvinyatina. Gabe Mikhail Ruvimovich
Gorky Maxim (Alexey Maximovich Peshkov)
Isaeva Vera Vasilievna
Levinson Evgeny Adolfovich
Peshkov A. M. (see Gorky Maxim)
Pyatnitsky Konstantin Petrovich
Kronverksky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 23
Vosstaniya St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 20/16
Эвентов И. С. Горький в Петербурге - Ленинграде. Л., 1956
Максим Горький в воспоминаниях современников: В 2 т. М., 1981
Гречнев В. Я. Горький в Петербурге - Ленинграде. Л., 1968 Knowledge, publishing house, 1898-1913
St. Peter and Paul fortress
St. Peter and Paul fortress
Novaya Zhizn (New Life), newspaper (1917-1918)
World of Literature, publishing house, 1918-1924
Tovstonogov Bolshoy Drama Theatre
Arts, The House of, literary society
1968