Maxim Gorky's short stories provide a candid and unflinching portrayal of life among the downtrodden of Russian society. Drawing on experiences from the author's own early life, which was characterised by poverty and abuse, his tales feature resourceful thieves, delinquent tramps, and browbeaten workers. These stunning, thought-provoking short stories helped forge Gorky's reputation as a major proponent of literary socialist realism. This brilliant collection includes the classic tales, The Outcasts, Makar Chudra, Twenty-Six and One, At the Salt Marsh, Chelkash and Song of the Falcon.