Cover of Mother

Mother

by Maxim Gorky

First published
1920
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free

About the book

"Mother" by Maksim Gorky is a novel written in 1906 about revolutionary factory workers. It follows Pelageya Nilovna Vlasova, a woman enduring brutal poverty and manual labor in a Russian factory. When her son Pavel becomes involved in revolutionary activities, the illiterate mother gradually transforms from fearful bystander to active participant in the movement. Based on real events from a 1902 May Day demonstration, the novel blends political awakening with biblical imagery, portraying revolutionaries as martyrs fighting against exploitation by authorities and the wealthy.

  • Revolutionaries
  • Mothers and sons
  • Russia
  • Russian fiction
  • Working class
  • Social change

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #3783. Mother on Wikipedia.

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