After leaving his ancestral home, Alyosha Peshkov too early finds himself on his own. He has to go “among people,” work for different masters, endure humiliation, cruelty, and injustice, and face the cold indifference of those around him. But amid hard labor and constant deprivation, he does not lose his interest in life and his desire for knowledge: new acquaintances, the books he reads, and bitter lessons gradually temper his character and help him hold on to his faith in people.
“Among People” is the second part of Maxim Gorky’s famous autobiographical trilogy. The story is based on the writer’s memories of his youth, when he had to begin his independent path early. Recreating a vivid and truthful atmosphere of the times, Gorky speaks about growing up, searching for his place, and how harsh trials can become support for inner fortitude and spiritual growth.