Cu școala o duceam iarăși rău. The boys were making fun of me, shouting that I was a junk dealer and a beggar. And one fine day, after I had quarreled with them, they complained to the teacher that I smelled of rags and that it was impossible for anyone to stay beside me.... The children had scorned the crying out of malice. Every morning I washed myself very carefully and never came to school in the clothes I wore when I went to collect rags.

Nimeni nu se naște rău, ci imită comportamentul celorlalți. Reading the book is disturbing because of the acceptance of suffering and death in his presence, without judging it, without revolting. Only one thought comes to me at the end: Lord, protect the children!

I had purchased Maxim Gorky's 'My Childhood' way back in July 2006. For over a decade, it sat on my bookshelf, quietly and patiently awaiting its moment. Lately, as I seem to have developed more patience for reading, I decided to pick up this classic, even though I had never before delved into any of Gorky's works. Of course, his most renowned work is 'The Mother', and his own mother plays a significant role in this autobiographical narrative of his childhood.

I could hardly fathom the sort of childhood that Gorky endured! His childhood was shaped by wild uncles and a volatile grandfather who was prone to violence. His mother, who was often absent, was paradoxically present more through her absence. It was the kindness of his grandmother that sustained Gorky during this tumultuous and unreliable childhood. Reading the book was a breeze, as Gorky writes in a rhythmic and fluid style. However, I do feel a tinge of regret for not having read his earlier works before choosing this one. His childhood, much like his pseudonym, was truly 'bitter'.

I have been addressing my younger brother as Gorki for years (his name is Görkem), and since we were very young, the Gorki books on the bookshelf at home have always attracted my attention. There was one volume of this trilogy at home, but I don't remember which one it was. I will check it as soon as I have the first chance to go to my father's house.

Years later, when I learned that it was an autobiographical trilogy, during the period when I was captivated by Russian literature, I wanted to read it. It reminded me of David Copperfield that I read when I was a middle school student. I'm not sure if it's true, but I know that Dickens also wrote that book with autobiographical elements.

The author, who describes his childhood and the dramas in family life that left a mark on his life without missing a single detail in his emotional exploitation, has such a calm pen that it flows, and people are curious about the story as if they are watching a series.

I must not overlook Mazlum Beyhan's excellent translation either. I would like to express my gratitude again and again to İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları, which has made a tremendous effort in the Turkish literary world.

As a final note, when you look at the childhood photo on the front cover and the adulthood photo on the back cover one after the other, it makes people want to cry. Especially in the English editions, there is a photo of Aleksey (presumably) sitting on his father's shoulder... I don't know what to say.

Childhood is such a difficult period. People have to learn everything, even eating fruits and tying shoes, from scratch. It should be a blessing of nature that we are not aware of the effort we spend while trying to perceive our emotions, empathy, and human relationships.

I have written too much. I hope you will read it.

Maxim Gorky's works always bring a sense of familiarity, warmth, and simplicity without being dull. "Childhood" is one of the works that bear the most marks of Maxim Gorky. The childhood of the little boy Alexei is retold as if it were the author's own life, with all the sadness, loss, but also the gentle dreams and hopes.

Alexei loses his father and his mother leaves. He lives with his grandparents. The two old people, who are completely opposite in character and emotion, create waves for his childhood every day. If the grandmother is kind, loves and takes care of Alexei, the grandfather is strict, hot-tempered and rough. He vents his anger on the family members whenever he feels dissatisfied, with fierce scolding and even unforgiving beatings. Gradually, the estrangement and differences in the family grow day by day. Love and hatred become intertwined emotions in the little boy's heart. Not to mention the property disputes among the people around him that always lead to fierce quarrels. The family's economy declines, and witnessing many relatives pass away for various reasons, the innocent heart of Alexei has to face those sad and heavy things directly. The only comfort he gets is from his kind grandmother.

"The house of my grandfather at that time was so surrounded by an atmosphere of mutual hatred. The hatred not only poisoned the adults but also infected the children."

A childhood that should have been filled with colors and vitality is replaced by a dull, gloomy and somewhat violent period of time. Russian society at that time was also full of the harshness of the Tsarist regime. The men in the family, more or less influenced by autocratic ideas, looked down on women and lived in a family with their own wild and conservative habits. While women were the ones who endured and always tried to maintain the family as best they could. Alexei is too young to have a say in the family. Instead of rebelling, he listens to his grandmother and chooses to be calm and quiet. At first, we might think that maybe because Alexei is too young to fully feel the pain of losing his relatives or the spiritual pressure in the face of the harshness of the family, but that's not the case. The act of maintaining a calm and composed attitude in the face of all the waves is precisely the belief in a brighter tomorrow for him, and gradually it becomes a habit and a skill to help him face reality. The belief in this child helps Alexei overcome difficulties and grow up. His little heart always has its own feelings:

"We just sat there quietly for a long time in the tranquility and peace of the late summer afternoon. Every moment that passed, the decay of the surrounding scenery seemed to become more distinct. The earth had lost all the rich fragrance of summer and only gave off a damp and chilly smell. The air was incredibly transparent, and the fluttering shadows of the crows against the red sky gave a feeling of desolation. Everything around was as quiet as a sheet of paper, to the extent that the sound of a bird flapping its wings or the rustle of a falling leaf would make people start. But then the silence seemed to cover the whole earth again and embrace the heart. Those pure, thin, light, transparent thoughts like spider webs, could not be described in words. They came and went like shooting stars, gently touching the heart with a kind of sad tenderness, burning the heart and gradually melting and forming memories that would last forever."

The literary images in Maxim Gorky's works are really beautiful. All the scenery can reveal the heart. Is "Childhood" the heart of a child or the memory and reminiscence of an adult? Both are correct. Whether it is Alexei or Maxim himself, stepping into life from difficulties is already great for themselves, and the achievement that both have obtained is the mark of Alexei in the hearts of readers and Maxim Gorky's works for Russian literature and world literature.

"Alexei, now you can't hold on to your grandfather's neck like a leech anymore. This is no longer a place for you. You have to fend for yourself, grandson!"

"AND SO I ENTERED LIFE."

Maxim Gorky's memoir offers a complex and often harrowing look back at his childhood.

The cover photo of the Penguin 20th Century Classics edition, showing a young Gorky sitting on his father's shoulders, provides a brief moment of sweetness. However, as the memoir progresses, we learn of the tragic events that follow.

Gorky's father dies, and his mother, overcome with grief, abandons him to live with his grandparents. His grandmother, who had 18 children but only two survived, is a source of some fond memories for Gorky. She is illiterate and was married at 15.

The grandfather, on the other hand, regularly flogs Maxim, and the people in the memoir seem to be constantly beating each other or praying to Christian icons.

One particularly disturbing event that Gorky recalls is when his grandmother's two sons, Yakov and Mikhail, cut a hole in the ice and camouflaged it, causing their father to fall in. When he tried to crawl out, they stomped on his fingers and threw chunks of ice at him, leaving him to drown. Miraculously, he survived, but it was an attempted murder.

At the end of the memoir, Gorky's mother, who had returned to live with her parents after her second husband had an affair, is on her deathbed. Maxim witnesses her passing, and his grandfather, who had been a difficult figure throughout the memoir, has a touching moment with him, telling him to go out into the world.

Overall, while the memoir has its moments of beauty and poignancy, it is also a dark and often disturbing account of a difficult childhood. In my opinion, it is an average memoir, not quite in the upper tier.

A Memoir of Childhood in a Dysfunctional Nineteenth-Century Russian Family

I have a great appreciation for the way Gorky presents his childhood experiences in this memoir. It seems as if there is a seamless melting between the lived moments and the remembered ones, enhanced by his astute analysis. The sensory details he chooses are truly well-suited, painting a vivid picture of his surroundings. What I particularly like is that there isn't an excessive interruption from his older, writing self. This, I believe, is beneficial as it helps to emphasize the "Russian Soul (TM)" aspect of the narrative.

The story commences with the tragic death of Gorky's father, after which he and his mother move in with his self-indulgent and violent grandfather, as well as his warm and world-loving grandmother. Among all the characters, the grandmother is like a reservoir of tradition. The house is constantly filled with feuding uncles and various hangers-on. Big arguments and horrible incidents are a regular occurrence. One of the most captivating aspects for me is the way we witness Gorky taking much of this chaos for granted, just as children tend to do. Gorky's fundamental aim is to illustrate how poverty and oppressive social systems can mutilate people's souls. Overall, it's an interesting yet simple book, I suppose.

Long afterwards, I came to understand that for Russians, despite the squalor and poverty that pervaded their lives, suffering took on a strange guise. It was almost as if suffering served as a diversion, something to break the monotony. They would turn it into a game, much like children do. And remarkably, they rarely seemed to feel ashamed of their misfortunes. In the unvarying routine of everyday existence, grief was like a holiday, and a fire was regarded as an entertainment. Even a scratch could embellish an otherwise empty face.

This quote truly encapsulates the essence of the entire book. Gorky's reminiscence of growing up in poverty presents a brutally honest and vivid picture of life in tsarist Russia. The writing is excellent, filled with real and complex human characters within a dysfunctional family. I found myself thoroughly enjoying this work. However, there was perhaps a slight deficiency in the exploration of the emotions that the little boy experienced. Other than when he became angry and engaged in mischief, I didn't feel as deeply moved as I had initially hoped. Nevertheless, the masterful storytelling, the captivating tales of the characters, and the palpable spirit of Russia during that era all combined to make this book an outstanding and engaging read.

At first, I thought I was going to read a harsh autobiography for the period. Then, the prologue and the subsequent sections flowed in a soft tone with Gorky's simple style.

But as I got closer to the end, I was faced with harsh and terrifying realities. Its influence, I think, was chaotic at first, but perhaps it was because his family maintained a humorous tone very well.

However, when preparing for some endings in life, it doesn't really care whether you do it willingly or unwillingly. As each day passes and we try to face life with great effort, horror gradually creeps into your soul and your home.

Overall, this autobiography takes the reader on a journey through Gorky's life, showing both the gentle and the harsh sides, and leaving a deep impression on the reader.

Rus Edebiyat'ının Gogol'dan sonra en sevdiğim yazarı Gorki'dir. Ben, Rus devrimci hareketine adadığı Ana adlı romanıyla kendisini tanımıştım. Ancak, kendi çocukluğunu okumak ve gerçek olduklarını bilmek, çok daha farklı bir deneyimdi.

Gorki'nin çocukluğunun hikayeleri, acı, sıkıntı, yoksulluk ve zorluklarla doluydu. Ancak, aynı zamanda cesaret, kararlılık, umut ve sevgi de içeriyordu. O, zorlukların üstesinden gelmek için ne kadar çaba sarf ettiğini ve nasıl direnebildiğini okuyucuya göstermektedir.

Gorki'nin yazıları, beni çok derinlemesine etkiledi. Onun, insanlığın en iyi ve en kötü yanlarını gördüğünü, ancak hala umutlu kaldığını ve insanlığın iyileşmesini inandığını hissediyorum. O, bana, her zaman umutun olduğunu ve hiçbir zaman teslim olmamamız gerektiğini öğretti.

I first read this book when I was a secondary student. It was a precious possession at that time. However, unfortunately, I lost it somewhere along the way. But recently, I had the opportunity to repurchase it, which made me extremely happy.

This book has truly taught me a great deal about independence and affection. It has opened my eyes to many aspects of life that I might not have otherwise understood. It is one of those rare books that have the power to change a person's life.

Besides "Nobody's Boy (Sans Famille)" by Hector Malot, this book holds a special place in my heart. It has accompanied me through different stages of my life and has always provided valuable lessons and inspiration. I am truly grateful to have rediscovered this wonderful book.

In my childhood, I saw myself like a hive: Simple, ordinary people, like bees gathering honey of their knowledge and thoughts about life, would bring it to my hive and generously offer whatever they could to enrich my soul. The honey would not always be pure, and in fact, it would often be bitter. But still, every piece of information was like honey! (p.149).

Childhood is the first of the three books that make up Maksim Gorki's autobiography. Biography and autobiography are not a genre that I usually read with great enthusiasm. For this reason, I started Childhood with a bit of hesitation; but I couldn't put it down. I missed the Russian classics so much!

The description of childhood in this passage is truly vivid. It presents a unique perspective of how a child perceives the world and the people around him. The metaphor of the hive is quite apt, as it shows how the child absorbs the knowledge and experiences of others, much like a hive collects honey.

Moreover, the mention of the honey not always being pure and sometimes bitter adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. It reflects the reality that life is not always sweet and simple, but rather a mix of joys and sorrows.

Overall, this passage from Childhood offers a fascinating glimpse into the author's early years and sets the stage for what is likely to be a captivating autobiographical journey.

My Childhood, Autobiography Part I, 1913–1914, Maxim Gorky

My Childhood, Autobiography Part I (Russian: Детство, translit. Detstvo) is a remarkable autobiographical work by Maxim Gorky. It was first published in Russian between 1913 and 1914 and later in English in 1920. In 2016, it was republished by Pocket Penguins.

The first reading date was in October 1975. The title is "Childhood" and the author is Maxim Gorky. It has been translated by Karim Kashvarz. It was published in Tehran by Sepher in 1930, in 267 pages. The second edition was published by Jibi Books in Tehran in 1942, in 336 pages. Another edition was published by Agha in Tehran in 1978, also in 336 pages. Yet another edition was published by Negah in Tehran in 2009, in 319 pages. The ISBN is 9789643515461. The subject is the memoirs and autobiographies of Russian writers in the 20th century.

Gorky's childhood was filled with challenges. He lived between a harsh and tyrannical grandfather who wanted to educate him in the old way and a kind and cautious mother. The family lived in fear of the old man, and he treated his wife and children cruelly. It was a difficult time for young Gorky, but it also shaped his character and his view of the world.