The Outcasts, and Other Stories

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gorky, Maksim, 1868-1936

Contributor:

Jakowleff, Emily

Montefiore, Dora B.

Volkhovsky, Vera

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Outcasts, and Other Stories" by Maksim Gorky is a collection of stories written in the late 19th century. The book explores the lives of society's outcasts, focusing particularly on the character Aristide Kouvalda, a retired cavalry officer who runs a doss-house for the downtrodden in a squalid suburb. Through Kouvalda and his lodgers, the narrative delves into themes of poverty, camaraderie, and the struggles against a harsh social environment. The opening of the collection introduces readers to the setting of the High Street, a grim place characterized by dilapidated hovels and a permeating sense of despair among its inhabitants. We meet Aristide Kouvalda, the doss-house keeper, who exhibits a blend of cynicism and humor while interacting with a cast of unique, troubled characters, each with their own backstory of hardship and vice. Their daily lives are marked by a struggle for survival, addiction to alcohol, and fleeting moments of connection, illustrating the challenges faced by those on the periphery of society. Through vivid descriptions and dialogues, Gorky offers a poignant critique of social injustices while also highlighting the humanity of his outcast characters amidst their grim circumstances. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The outcasts

Waiting for the ferry

The affairs of the clasps.

Credits:

Produced by Marc D'Hooghe at FreeLiterature. (Images generously made available by the Internet Archive.)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 82.1 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Release date is 2017-10-31