Through Russia

Through Russia by Maxim Gorky is a collection of short stories following an unnamed wanderer as he journeys across Russia. The stories alternate between vivid almost poetic descriptions of the expansive natural beauty of the Russian landscape and the bleak realities faced by the impoverished and marginalized members of society. Through the wanderer's encounters Gorky contrasts the grandeur of nature with the crushing despair of life for those at the lowest rungs of the social ladder. The collection captures the emotional and physical struggles of the people the wanderer meets from their harsh daily lives to their yearning for change. Gorky's use of purple prose in describing the Russian wilderness serves to enhance the stark contrast between the beauty of the environment and the hopelessness felt by the downtrodden. Ultimately the stories present a powerful commentary on the social inequalities and hardships experienced by the lower classes while also reflecting on the wanderer's own reflections and philosophical musings on life and society.