Gorky, Maxim. Pen name of Alexei Maximovitch Pysehkoff, a self-educated Russian novelist. Born in Nizhni-Novgorod, 1868. Son of an upholsterer. After the death of his parents, he was engaged in various occupations until, through the influence of his friend Kalushni, his attention was turned to literary work, and his first story, "Makar Chudra," appeared in 1892. Gorky was one of the most original and popular of Russian writers. In 1905 he was imprisoned for a time for political offenses. Among his works are "The Song of the Falcon," "The Song of the Petrel," "The Orloff Couple," "Malva, "Foma Gordyeef," "Children of the Sun," and "The Barbarians."

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