Russia was by no means paradise at the turn of the twentieth century, but it was decidedly worse for the poor and homeless community. This play centres around a motley crew of drunkards, vagabonds, and petty criminals whose lives are forever changed by the arrival of mysterious pilgrim Luka. A pillar of Maxim Gorky's social realism, 'The Lower Depths' oozes pessimism, social criticism, and alcoholism. An essential read for fans of both modern and classical Russian literature, from Leo Tols...

Discover a new way to read classics with Quick Read.This Quick Read edition includes both the full text and a summary for each chapter.- Reading time of the complete text: about 2 hours- Reading time of the summarized text: 3 minutes"The Lower Depths" is a play written by Maxim Gorky in 1902 and produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre. It portrays the lives of impoverished Russians living in a shelter near the Volga. Initially criticized for its pessimism, the play...