Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, better known as Maxim Gorky, was a Russian author considered the father of Soviet revolutionary literature and founder of the doctrine of socialist realism. After having a difficult childhood, he roamed across the Russian empire, frequently changing jobs for about fifteen years before he became a successful writer. The experiences he had during those fifteen years deeply influenced his writing. Initially, he wrote stories mainly based on the lives of tramps and social outcasts, and he became known for his naturalistic style of writing. August Nemo selected seven important short stories from this author's vast work:Her LoverOne Autumn NightTwenty Six Men and a GirlThe Dead ManWaiting for the FerryThe BillionaireThe Birth of a Man