Mother

Title: Mother

Author: Maxim Gorky

Pages: 389

Genre: Russian Classic, Socialist Realism

Grade: B

Synopsis: This book was published in Russia in 1906, ushering in the era of socialist realism and pushing the citizens of Russia towards the Russian Revolution.  Pavel is a disenchanted factory worker who is working hard to publish and distribute literature against the bourgeois class. After many secret meetings held late into the night in her house, she begins to gain passion in her son's cause although she doesn't understand everything about it. She begins secretly helping the cause whenever she can.

My Review:  This is a famous Revolutionary book in Russia (in fact, the famous Gorky Park in Moscow is named after the author).  I would compare it to an Uncle Tom's Cabin or Common Sense type publication here in the states that ushered in revolutions of their own.

From the Book: "(p. 125) Life flowed on swiftly. The days were diversified and full of color. Each one brought with it something new, and the new ceased to alarm the mother. Strangers came to the house in the evening more and more frequently, and they talked with Andrey in subdued voices with an engrossed air. Late at night they went out into the darkness, their collars up, their hats thrust low over their faces, noiselessly, cautiously.  All seemed to feel a feverish excitement, which they kept under restraint, and had the air of wanting to sing and laugh if they only had the time. They were all in a perpetual hurry. All of them--the mocking and the serious, the frank, jovial youth with effervescing strength, the thoughtful and quiet--all of them in the eyes of the mother were identical in the persistent faith that characterized them; and although each had his own peculiar cast of countenance, for her all their faces blended into one thin, composed, resolute face with a profound expression in its dark eyes, kind yet stern, like the look in Christ's eyes on his way to Emmaus."

"(p. 332) Family life always diminishes the energy of a revolutionist. Children must be maintained in security ,and there's the need to work a great deal for one's break. The revolutionist ought without cease to develop every iota of his energy; he must deepen and broaden it; but this demands time. He must always be at the head, because we--the workingmen--are called by the logic of history to destroy the old world, to create the new life; and if we stop, if we yield to exhaustion, or are attracted by the possibility of a little immediate conquest, it's bad--it's almost treachery to the cause. No revolutionist can adhere closely to an individual--walk thorough life side by side with another individual--without distorting his faith; and we must never forget that our aim is not little conquests, but only complete victory!"