The Orloff Couple, and Malva

In this pair of linked tales, Gorky turns his keen eye to the quiet desperation and stubborn hope that animate the lives of ordinary Russians at the turn of the century. The first story follows a married couple whose modest aspirations are tested by the crushing weight of poverty, while the second introduces Malva, a young woman whose fierce independence clashes with the expectations of her community. Both narratives pulse with the author’s characteristic blend of gritty realism and unexpected tenderness.

The volume opens with a vivid sketch of Gorky’s own childhood—an orphaned boy shuffled from one menial job to another, finding solace in the rag‑tag library of a ship’s cook. These formative hardships, from steamer galley work to railway signal‑post duty, forged his lifelong sympathy for society’s outcasts and give the stories a raw, authentic edge. Listeners will feel as if they are walking beside the author, sharing the same streets and struggles that shaped his unforgettable voice.