For the barefooted dreamer's life is Gorky's
life, his ideals are Gorky's ideals, his pleasures and pains,
Gorky's pleasures and pains.
And Gorky, though broken in health now, buffeted by the storms of
fate, bruised and wounded in the battle-field of life, still like
Byron and like Lermontov,
"--seeks the storm
As though the storm contained repose."
And in a leonine voice he cries defiantly:
"Let the storm rage with greater force and fury!"
HERMAN BERNSTEIN.
September 20, 1901.
FOMA GORDYEEF
Dedicated to
ANTON P. CHEKHOV
By
Maxim Gorky
CHAPTER I
ABOUT sixty years ago, when fortunes of millions had been made on
the Volga with fairy-tale rapidity, Ignat Gordyeeff, a young
fellow, was working as water-pumper on one of the barges of the
wealthy merchant Zayev.
Built like a giant, handsome and not at all stupid, he was one of
those people whom luck always follows everywhere--not because
they are gifted and industrious, but rather because, having an
enormous stock of energy at their command, they cannot stop to
think over the choice of means when on their way toward their
aims, and, excepting their own will, they know no law.
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