Maa

Book Details:

• Author: Maxim Gorky, Translated by Pushmoyi Basu

• Category: Novels & Short Stories

• Publisher: National Book Agency Private Limited

• Language: Bengali

• First Publication Year: 1954

• Publication Year: 2025

• Edition: 20th Edition

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 313

• ISBN: 9789348778611

About The Book:
"Maa" is a timeless novel written by Russian author Maxim Gorky, first published in 1906. This novel, originally written in Russian, has been translated into numerous languages worldwide over the past century. Set against the backdrop of a revolutionary workers' movement, the novel focuses on two main characters: Pavel and his mother.

The story portrays the life of a woman, Pelageya Nilovna Vlasova, who works hard in a Russian factory, struggling with poverty, hunger, and other hardships. Her husband, a heavy alcoholic, physically abuses her and leaves her with the full responsibility of raising their son, Pavel. Pavel initially starts to mimic his father but eventually becomes involved in revolutionary activities.

Pelageya, illiterate and initially unaware of her son's political activities, becomes concerned about his involvement. However, as the story unfolds, Pelageya, inspired by her motherly instincts, overcomes her ignorance and joins her son in the revolutionary cause.

The novel presents Pavel as the primary revolutionary character, with other key revolutionary figures, such as his friends, the anarchist farmer Raibin and the Ukrainian Andrei Nakhodka, who embraces socialist internationalism. Maxim Gorky used this novel to convey a political agenda, attempting to awaken revolutionary consciousness among readers, especially after the failure of Russia's first revolution in 1905.

The Bengali translation of this novel has been done by Pushmoyi Basu.