Okay but if we want to read Gorky where do we start? Is there a particular novel or edition that's good? Did you ever read Mother? Was it good? You sold me on him, but now it just seems like there's no actual book to read :)
☺️ The memoir triptych is great, but unless you're interested in rural Russian village life, might feel too much like a straight memoir. I would start with "A Confession", then "Diary of a Useless Man"; then from there, if you're open to going in a completely opposite direction stylistically the Artamanov Affair and then Life of Klim Samghin. Some people love "Mother" but I could never get into it.
I assume it was for comedy, but you know why LOA isn't touching this. NYRB, however, maybe could be tempted. Editor Edwin Frank actually answers the email address for suggesting titles. You should contact him and ask.
Ngl, as a former Russian minor who was force-marched through “Mother,” my involuntary response to the headline was “do I have to?” But okay, okay, more to the story etc. Although if Babel exists I don’t know if we need Gorky?
Okay but if we want to read Gorky where do we start? Is there a particular novel or edition that's good? Did you ever read Mother? Was it good? You sold me on him, but now it just seems like there's no actual book to read :)
☺️ The memoir triptych is great, but unless you're interested in rural Russian village life, might feel too much like a straight memoir. I would start with "A Confession", then "Diary of a Useless Man"; then from there, if you're open to going in a completely opposite direction stylistically the Artamanov Affair and then Life of Klim Samghin. Some people love "Mother" but I could never get into it.
I remember really liking Lower Depths
I assume it was for comedy, but you know why LOA isn't touching this. NYRB, however, maybe could be tempted. Editor Edwin Frank actually answers the email address for suggesting titles. You should contact him and ask.
https://www.nyrb.com/pages/recommend-book
Ngl, as a former Russian minor who was force-marched through “Mother,” my involuntary response to the headline was “do I have to?” But okay, okay, more to the story etc. Although if Babel exists I don’t know if we need Gorky?
Pretty sure his plays are easily available, at least I hadn’t noticed problem finding them back in the days before online bookstores