Maxim Gorky and world literature

Abstract

Traditionally, Russian Studies, both Soviet and anti-Soviet in nature, have viewed Gorky as 'the father of socialist realism, the first proletarian writer' and a loyal supporter of the Bolsheviks. One of the leading Russian writers of the time whose work stems from literature belief is Maxim Gorky. In effect, the World Literature Publishing House project was nothing short of revolutionary. World literature scholarship, in the few existing publications which mention Gorky and World Literature Publishers, also follow this conventional trend. Examined in the light of its precursors, the World Literature project can be seen as a natural evolution of the dominant enlightenment tradition within Russian literary publishing of the time: as an educational large-scale project published for mass audiences. The 1880s–1900s were a time of intensive development of Russia's publishing system, a time of implementing daring innovative projects. Both the Catalogue and The Untimely Thoughts contain a number of similar themes.