Three Men: A Novel  (Paperback, Maksim Gorky)

The novel centers around three men—Yakob Ivanovich, Matvei Savvich, and Piotr Ivanovich—who live in a small provincial town in Russia. Each of these men represents different aspects of Russian society at the turn of the 20th century, and through their interactions and individual stories, Gorky explores the broader social, political, and philosophical issues facing Russia during this period. Yakob Ivanovich is a small-time shopkeeper, whose life is dominated by the mundane routines of his business and family obligations. He represents the conservative and traditional mindset, content with the status quo and wary of change. Matvei Savvich, on the other hand, is a more idealistic character, filled with a desire for social justice and progress. He is deeply concerned with the plight of the poor and the working class and often finds himself at odds with the other two men over his radical ideas. Piotr Ivanovich is a bureaucrat, a man who is deeply entrenched in the state apparatus and represents the oppressive mechanisms of the government. As the novel progresses, Gorky delves into the inner lives of these three men, highlighting their struggles, desires, and conflicts. The novel is less about plot and more about the exploration of ideas and the depiction of the characters' psychological and emotional states. Through their conversations and interactions, Gorky addresses themes such as social inequality, the role of the individual in society, and the tension between tradition and progress.