The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-25

FIONA GORDYEEFF by Maxim Gorky
Translated from the Russian by Isabel
F.Hapgood. illustrated. Price $780,
Publishers Charles Scribner's Sons. New
York.
Maxim Gorky is the literary sensation
of the day. His books are so popular that
some have called him "Tolstoi's Success
sor,, and in Continental Europe he is all
the rage. His stories are tremendously
realistic and intensely dramatic. Three
years ago he was poor and unknown ex-
cept to few friends; now he is famous
and rich, the most talked about man in
the literary world. Since they heard of
him, less than a year ago. the English
periodicals have been filed with his ro-
mantle stories His new-found fame en-
harnesses him. Prince Kropotkin tells
the story that once when an audience in
the theatre stood up and cheered Gorky
when he entered, he lost his balance COM
pletely. "I'm not ballet dancer or a
Venus of Milo" he cried. What are
you staring at me for? Look at the
stage" And the renewed applause only
made him more angry-which shows he
is not a ballet-dancer or an actor or
politician. The history Of Gorky is as
knights His father. who was an up
holsterer. died when he was five years old.
He tried his hand by turns as fisherman,
baker, dock laborer, harvester and tramp.
He tried to enter the army, and after re-
lection peddled beer; then did odd jobs
for a lawyer and finally went to Tilflis,
where he worked upon railroad and pub
lisIed his first novel in local paper.
Later he supported himself by writing for
newspapers. meeting vladimir Karolenko,
a Russian writer who encouraged ana
helped him. His development has been
very rapid, and is largely due to what ne
learned in his life of peddling and tramp
ing. Though poor and tramp, Gorky al
ways managed to have book in his
blouse il he starved a week to get t. He
educated himself and mastered several
languages. Then he wrote. not for arts
sake. but out of beating heart. because
he was too full of the life he lived and
suffered. and saw others live and suffer.
to hold it all.
Foma Gordyeeff is the first of Gorky's
books to reach the American public, and
is by Isabel Florence Hapgood, an au-
thoritative Russian scholar whose trans
lations and writings OH Russian life are
we'll drawn Charles Scribner's Sons are
the authorized publishers as appears from
this letter:
Mini Novgorod.
4l May 8, 1901.
Dear Sir:
have received your esteemed letter and
hast ten to- reply that recognize Charles
Scribner's Sons as the sole publishers OF
the transIa lions. OF my works from Rus
sian into English in the United State
Accept dear sir, my most sincere re-
CARDS.
MAXIM GORKY.
Foma Gordyeeff was chosen for Gorky's
American debut because it is generally
considered to be his strongest work. The
title is the name of the hero FOma being
Russian for Thomas. 1t is powerful
novel, tracing the hero's character as de-
yeloped from childhood. and incidents typ
zeal Of the merchant class of Volga. 1t is
q live book-every sentence Of it-and does
not disappoint the high expectations rails
ed by the warm praise OF European and
English reviewers 1t is realistic in keep
ing with Russian ideas and Russian taste
Russians like their realisms strong and
urfettered-they are fond of gloomy pic
lures which show how little the moral law
avails in wicked world" But while
realistic, Gorky does not lack in spirit
uality. There is sentence about lgnat,
father of the hero. that is fine andsinspir-
ing. Ignat's steamer had been burned on
the volga and he was telling how sorry
he didn't see it-"What fine sight. he
said, ut must have been-such high
bonfire blazing on the water of dark
night, don't you think so?" Asked by
Mayakin if he did not regret the loss of
the steamer. Here is his answer
1.-The steamer? l did regret that GER
tainly. ! Well, regret is MOTH
ing but Stiffness. What's the use? Cry
if you. like, but tears quench no fires. Let
the steamers burn-and it. everything
burns, l don't care a straw! My spirit
would blaze up to work-and I'd replace
it all-isn't that the idea"
"Ye-es-" said Mayakin, laughing.
"Yuu utter stout words. And any one who
talks like that will always be a rich
man, even if you strip him to the skin "
The New York list of best selling
books stands as follows:
First-"The Crisis
Second-"Helmet of Navarro"
Third-"Sister Teresa"
Fourth-'Tarry Thou Till / Come"
Fifth-"Tribulations OF Princess"
Sixth--'The Puppet Crown"
Thomas Nelson Page contributes to the
Atlantic for September the opening article
on 1.-THE Southern People During Recon-
70 caudor in diScncCinu mat