Childhood

Name: Childhood
ISBN: 9787505728998

Maxim Gorky / 郑海凌China Friendship Publishing Company · ChinaNov 2015

4.1

Word count: 151K words
Chapters: 15
ISBN: 9787505728998

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Summary

Childhood is the first part of Gorky's autobiographical trilogy. As early as the 1890s, Gorky had the idea of writing a biographical work. Between 1908 and 1910, when Lenin visited him on the Italian island of Capri, Gorky told him more than once of his childhood and youth. Once Lenin said to him, “You should write it all down, old friend — you really must! It is all highly educational.” Gorky replied, “One day I will...” and soon he kept that promise, giving us Childhood. When Alyosha was three, his father died, and his mother took him to his grandfather's house — a home full of hatred, steeped in petty-bourgeois habits, and stifling. Though his grandfather was violent and moody, his grandmother showered Alyosha with love, telling him legends, fairy tales, and folk stories. After his mother died and his grandfather went bankrupt, Alyosha was cast out into the world to make his own living. The book truthfully portrays Alyosha's suffering childhood, reflects Gorky's unremitting pursuit of light and truth, and vividly depicts all classes of nineteenth-century Russian society, especially the honest, simple, hardworking poor. The grandmother's image is one of the most radiant and poetic in Russian literature.

Editor's review

Childhood, the opening volume of Gorky's autobiographical trilogy, paints a picture of lower-class life in late 19th-century Russia with a cold yet deeply feeling touch. Far from a simple childhood memoir, it examines the complexity of human nature and the cruelty of society through a child's eyes. Alyosha's growth is interwoven with his grandmother's warmth and kindness, his grandfather's violence and miserliness, and the joys and sorrows of a motley cast of town characters. Gorky's greatness lies in his refusal to wallow in complaint about suffering; instead he catches the glimmer of humanity in the darkness—his grandmother's folk tales, full of wisdom and compassion, become the cornerstone of Alyosha's inner world. Reading this book, we are not merely learning about a writer's childhood but observing the soul's travail of a nation in transition. Its literary value lies in its almost plain realistic power and, behind that power, its steadfast longing for a better life. For modern readers it is a mirror, prompting us to ask: in adversity, what shapes our character and resilience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Russian literature and social history
Those seeking life strength from classic literature and personal growth
Literature lovers who enjoy delicate psychological portrayal and deep humanistic concern
Educators and mental-health professionals attentive to the influence of childhood experience

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light entertainment or fast-paced plots
Readers uncomfortable with heavy historical background and realist depiction

Reading tips

Reading alongside the social and historical background of late 19th-century Russia is recommended to better understand the characters' circumstances.
Note the figure of the grandmother: she embodies love and wisdom in the book and is key to its spiritual core.
While reading, consider: what shaping influence did the 'suffering' and 'warmth' Alyosha experienced have on his character?

About the publisher

China Friendship Publishing Company China · Founded in 1983

China Friendship Publishing Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literary titles, covering classical Chinese literature, foreign literature, folk literature and cultural appreciation. According to the books in the database, its classical list includes celebrated dramas and novels such as The Peony Pavilion, The Romance of the Western Chamber and Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, as well as note-style classics like Hong Mai's Rongzhai Suibi. In foreign literature it offers translations of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, Kawabata Yasunari's Snow Country and Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl, involving translators such as Zeng Siyi. It also publishes The Complete Literary Works of Lu Xun and titles associated with the "Xue'er Shuguan" editorial group, balancing the collation and popularization of classic texts. Public information on its publishing features and plans is limited; the above is summarized only from the books in the database.

版权信息
译本序
一
二
三
四
五
六
七
八
九
十
十一
十二
十三

FAQ

Is Childhood purely autobiographical?

It is an autobiographical novel based on Gorky's real experiences but refined and artistically shaped; it is not a strictly historical record.

Is this book suitable for young readers?

It is a classic coming-of-age work, but it contains vivid depictions of poverty, violence, and other realities. Mature young readers are advised to read it with guidance; they can draw deep lessons about resilience and kindness.

Why is Childhood regarded as a classic?

For its pioneering use of a child's perspective to probe society and human nature, binding a personal growth epic closely to the grand narrative of the age; its sincere emotion and superb artistry have cross-generational appeal.

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About the author

Maxim Gorky Author · Russian/Soviet · 1868–1936

Maxim Gorky, born Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, was a Russian and Soviet writer (1868–1936), regarded as the founder of Soviet proletarian literature and a representative of socialist realism. His major works include the prose poem The Song of the Stormy Petrel, the novel Mother, the play The Lower Depths, and the autobiographical trilogy Childhood, In the World, and My Universities. In 1934 he was elected the first chairman of the Soviet Writers' Union. His writing often depicts lower-class life and the awakening of ordinary people, combining realistic power with an idealistic spirit. This library holds 39 of his works, spanning foreign literature, classics, and world masterpieces.

郑海凌 Author

Public information about Zheng Hailing is rather limited, and details such as his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background cannot be confirmed at present. Judging from the seven works held in the collection, he is mainly active in the translation and introduction of foreign literature, working with classics by Russian-language writers such as Gorky and Gogol. His representative translations include Gorky's autobiographical trilogy Childhood, In the World and My Universities, a collected works of Gorky and Mother, as well as Gogol's novel Dead Souls. These works are generally classified under foreign literature and classic works, aimed at readers who wish to read Russian literary classics systematically. Based on the available titles, Zheng Hailing's work focuses on rendering famous Russian literary works into Chinese, with translations centered on realistic works of enduring influence, offering readable Chinese versions through which readers can come to know Gorky and Gogol.