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This story is about a male student whose poor, illiterate neighbor, Teresa, asks him to write a letter to her boyfriend back home. Soon after, she asks him to write a letter, as a young man, to his girlfriend, Teresa. The student then realizes that Teresa has created the boyfriend, and her relationship with him, out of loneliness and despair.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1897
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About the author
Maxim Gorky
1,783 books1,777 followersRussian writer Aleksei Maksimovich Peshkov (Russian: Алексей Максимович Пешков) supported the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 and helped to develop socialist realism as the officially accepted literary aesthetic; his works include
The Life of Klim Samgin
(1927-1936), an unfinished cycle of novels.
This Soviet author founded the socialist realism literary method and a political activist. People also nominated him five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. From 1906 to 1913 and from 1921 to 1929, he lived abroad, mostly in Capri, Italy; after his return to the Soviet Union, he accepted the cultural policies of the time.
This Soviet author founded the socialist realism literary method and a political activist. People also nominated him five times for the Nobel Prize in literature. From 1906 to 1913 and from 1921 to 1929, he lived abroad, mostly in Capri, Italy; after his return to the Soviet Union, he accepted the cultural policies of the time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 11, 2017
On the surface the story is one of loneliness and how a woman assuages the pain of that state. She, Teresa, is living in a rooming house and visits her next door neighbour, a student, to write her a letter as she herself is illiterate. He writes the letter to her boyfriend for her. Sometime later she returns and wants the student to write a letter from the boyfriend to her! It is as if this lonely woman has an inner, fantasy life that she tries to make a bit more real to console herself for the lack of love in her life. And this is how this long story is often interpreted.
But to me there is a great deal more to it than that. Teresa makes her living by exchanging sex for money, whether as a whore or given expected presents by men isn't clear. The student's attitude towards her, which is society's, is that she is sleazy and beneath notice socially. So Gorky has excluded her from the possibility of friendship with 'decent' people and from the love of a 'good' man. She really is isolated.
So there she is, in her little room, her human contact defined as only business transactions of a degrading nature, and she has invented a lover to whom she writes of a fictional life.. And then she has the lover write back in terms of longing and endearment. However, there is a fourth player in this convoluted game.
Teresa gives the letters, at intervals, to this unnamed person to read out to her and she says that read out loud the letters sound real even to her and that makes her feel both loving and loved. The student then, instead of despising her feels sorry for this lonely woman and repents misjudging her. And that's where analyses of the story usually end.
To me though, Teresa's loneliness is not conquered by her fantasy being brought to life with the letters, it is conquered by the approval and empathy of the person who reads the letters to her. This reader believes that the letters are real and thereby elevates Theresa to a romantic and even charming member of society. Theresa's loneliness is mitigated not by the fantasy of the lover, but the fantasy that others like and accept her and understand that her loneliness is of distance and not of being shunned, an outcast.
It is a beautifully-written story and would make a wonderful play or even short film. I couldn't make up my mind though if Gorky was very sympathetic to Teresa or just had enjoyed working out a very original plot.
But to me there is a great deal more to it than that. Teresa makes her living by exchanging sex for money, whether as a whore or given expected presents by men isn't clear. The student's attitude towards her, which is society's, is that she is sleazy and beneath notice socially. So Gorky has excluded her from the possibility of friendship with 'decent' people and from the love of a 'good' man. She really is isolated.
So there she is, in her little room, her human contact defined as only business transactions of a degrading nature, and she has invented a lover to whom she writes of a fictional life.. And then she has the lover write back in terms of longing and endearment. However, there is a fourth player in this convoluted game.
Teresa gives the letters, at intervals, to this unnamed person to read out to her and she says that read out loud the letters sound real even to her and that makes her feel both loving and loved. The student then, instead of despising her feels sorry for this lonely woman and repents misjudging her. And that's where analyses of the story usually end.
To me though, Teresa's loneliness is not conquered by her fantasy being brought to life with the letters, it is conquered by the approval and empathy of the person who reads the letters to her. This reader believes that the letters are real and thereby elevates Theresa to a romantic and even charming member of society. Theresa's loneliness is mitigated not by the fantasy of the lover, but the fantasy that others like and accept her and understand that her loneliness is of distance and not of being shunned, an outcast.
It is a beautifully-written story and would make a wonderful play or even short film. I couldn't make up my mind though if Gorky was very sympathetic to Teresa or just had enjoyed working out a very original plot.
July 19, 2018
A Polish woman of questionable morality lives next door to a student who dislikes her so strongly, he actively tries to avoid seeing or meeting her. However, when the woman makes a plea for his help, asking him to write a letter for her, he agrees to it. The student probably agrees to write the letter only to get rid of her, and is unable to hide his contempt for her as he writes it. When she compares herself to a dove, he almost can't help laughing.
“My dear Boles ... my darling ... my faithful lover. May the Mother of God protect thee! Thou heart of gold, why hast thou not written for such a long time to thy sorrowing little dove, Teresa?”
I very nearly burst out laughing. “A sorrowing little dove!” more than five feet high, with fists a stone and more in weight, and as black a face as if the little dove had lived all its life in a chimney, and had never once washed itself! Restraining myself somehow, I asked:
“Who is this Bolest?”
“Boles, Mr. Student,” she said, as if offended with me for blundering over the name, “he is Boles—my young man.”
“Young man!”
“Why are you so surprised, sir? Cannot I, a girl, have a young man?”
She? A girl? Well!
“Oh, why not?” I said. “All things are possible. And has he been your young man long?”
“Six years.”
“Oh, ho!” I thought. “Well, let us write your letter...”
Once he is done with the letter, the students sends Teresa on her way and hopes not to see her again. Nevertheless, Teresa returns asking him to write another letter. Now, from a lover to her! Suspecting Teresa is playing him for a fool, the students gets mad and scolds her. Soon, however, he realizes the depth of Teresa's despair. The student realizes how unemphatic and unjust he was in denying her something as simple a bit of comforting illusion.
It is easily to view people from a high moral stand, perhaps especially when one is young, a student, but life is relentless, cold and tragic. People always pay for their mistakes, and none of us need to be too cruel. The moment in which the student realized the error of his ways seemed very honest to me. I must say that I quite liked this story, brief as it was. I felt like we as readers weren't really able to have a glance into the soul of Teresa, but I was still fascinated by her and by the relationship between these two characters.
On some level, the story can also be read as a symbolic one. What is real and what is unreal? Can our imagined life hold a power of its own? Her Lover is not just a warning about the fact that we shouldn't judge others too harshly, it's just a testament to human loneliness, it's also a reminder that there is always more than we see. Life is complex. Tragic and complex.
Perhaps a bit too short to induce deep sentiment, Her Lover is ,nevertheless, a very touching and humane story. Well written and paced, with a good contrast of humour and sadness, it is a successful short story. A meaningful tale of human loneliness and isolation- and for me personally also a great introduction to Maxim Gorky.
“My dear Boles ... my darling ... my faithful lover. May the Mother of God protect thee! Thou heart of gold, why hast thou not written for such a long time to thy sorrowing little dove, Teresa?”
I very nearly burst out laughing. “A sorrowing little dove!” more than five feet high, with fists a stone and more in weight, and as black a face as if the little dove had lived all its life in a chimney, and had never once washed itself! Restraining myself somehow, I asked:
“Who is this Bolest?”
“Boles, Mr. Student,” she said, as if offended with me for blundering over the name, “he is Boles—my young man.”
“Young man!”
“Why are you so surprised, sir? Cannot I, a girl, have a young man?”
She? A girl? Well!
“Oh, why not?” I said. “All things are possible. And has he been your young man long?”
“Six years.”
“Oh, ho!” I thought. “Well, let us write your letter...”
Once he is done with the letter, the students sends Teresa on her way and hopes not to see her again. Nevertheless, Teresa returns asking him to write another letter. Now, from a lover to her! Suspecting Teresa is playing him for a fool, the students gets mad and scolds her. Soon, however, he realizes the depth of Teresa's despair. The student realizes how unemphatic and unjust he was in denying her something as simple a bit of comforting illusion.
It is easily to view people from a high moral stand, perhaps especially when one is young, a student, but life is relentless, cold and tragic. People always pay for their mistakes, and none of us need to be too cruel. The moment in which the student realized the error of his ways seemed very honest to me. I must say that I quite liked this story, brief as it was. I felt like we as readers weren't really able to have a glance into the soul of Teresa, but I was still fascinated by her and by the relationship between these two characters.
On some level, the story can also be read as a symbolic one. What is real and what is unreal? Can our imagined life hold a power of its own? Her Lover is not just a warning about the fact that we shouldn't judge others too harshly, it's just a testament to human loneliness, it's also a reminder that there is always more than we see. Life is complex. Tragic and complex.
Perhaps a bit too short to induce deep sentiment, Her Lover is ,nevertheless, a very touching and humane story. Well written and paced, with a good contrast of humour and sadness, it is a successful short story. A meaningful tale of human loneliness and isolation- and for me personally also a great introduction to Maxim Gorky.
November 30, 2024
Mastodon!
Deep in Moscow suburbs, a volatile educated Student reluctantly helps her obnoxious illiterate neighbor Teresa write a letter. For whatever reason, the two can't stand one another, but in helping each other, they just might find some sense of common ground, and secrets that reveal more than is shown.
Oh man this was GOOD! Sheer brightness. Well, at least until the very end, when the author went all preachy and philosophical and totally blew it. But right until then, solid 4-5 stars. Quick, funny and emotional too. Highly amusing, and equally poignant.
I really enjoyed the humorous undertone and ruthless bluntness in many of Gorky's statements, idioms and style of writing. I'm not sure if this is something I want to pursue further, but certainly wouldn't mind running into more of his works in the future, someday. We'll see!
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1897] [6p] [Classics] [3.5] [Almost Recommendable] []
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¡Mastodonte!
En lo profundo de los suburbios de Moscú, un volátil educado Estudiante ayuda a regañadientes a su desagradable vecina analfabeta Teresa a escribir una carta. Por alguna razón, los dos no se soportan, pero al ayudarse mutuamente, tal vez lleguen a encontrar algún punto en común, y secretos que revelen más de lo que se muestra.
Vaya, ¡esto sí que estuvo BUENO! Pura brillantez. Bueno, al menos hasta justo el final, cuando el autor se volvió totalmente filosófico y sermoneador y lo arruinó todo. Pero hasta entonces, sólidas 4-5 estrellas. Rápido, entretenido y también conmovedor. Bastante divertido e igualmente emotivo. Realmente disfruté mucho el tono humorístico y la franqueza despiadada de Gorky en muchas de sus declaraciones, modismos y estilo de escritura. No estoy seguro de si esto es algo que quiero perseguir más, pero ciertamente no me importaría encontrarme con más de sus obras en el futuro, algún día. ¡Ya veremos!
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1897] [6p] [Clásicos] [3.5] [Casi Recomendable] []
-----------------------------------------------
Deep in Moscow suburbs, a volatile educated Student reluctantly helps her obnoxious illiterate neighbor Teresa write a letter. For whatever reason, the two can't stand one another, but in helping each other, they just might find some sense of common ground, and secrets that reveal more than is shown.
Oh man this was GOOD! Sheer brightness. Well, at least until the very end, when the author went all preachy and philosophical and totally blew it. But right until then, solid 4-5 stars. Quick, funny and emotional too. Highly amusing, and equally poignant.
I really enjoyed the humorous undertone and ruthless bluntness in many of Gorky's statements, idioms and style of writing. I'm not sure if this is something I want to pursue further, but certainly wouldn't mind running into more of his works in the future, someday. We'll see!
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1897] [6p] [Classics] [3.5] [Almost Recommendable] []
-----------------------------------------------
¡Mastodonte!
En lo profundo de los suburbios de Moscú, un volátil educado Estudiante ayuda a regañadientes a su desagradable vecina analfabeta Teresa a escribir una carta. Por alguna razón, los dos no se soportan, pero al ayudarse mutuamente, tal vez lleguen a encontrar algún punto en común, y secretos que revelen más de lo que se muestra.
Vaya, ¡esto sí que estuvo BUENO! Pura brillantez. Bueno, al menos hasta justo el final, cuando el autor se volvió totalmente filosófico y sermoneador y lo arruinó todo. Pero hasta entonces, sólidas 4-5 estrellas. Rápido, entretenido y también conmovedor. Bastante divertido e igualmente emotivo. Realmente disfruté mucho el tono humorístico y la franqueza despiadada de Gorky en muchas de sus declaraciones, modismos y estilo de escritura. No estoy seguro de si esto es algo que quiero perseguir más, pero ciertamente no me importaría encontrarme con más de sus obras en el futuro, algún día. ¡Ya veremos!
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1897] [6p] [Clásicos] [3.5] [Casi Recomendable] []
-----------------------------------------------
February 5, 2017
Was it stereotypical towards women? Maybe, maybe not. At this point I shall ignore it 'cause it doesn't really matter.
So Gorky here tells a story of a female who is lonely and doesn't have any interactions with the outside world. Did he go deeper to analyze her psychology and behaviour? Probably not but what he gave us was enough (considering the length of the story as well)
The narrator was quick to judge the woman and later regrets it.
So the moral of the story -briefly- is not to be prejudiced towards others when we are clueless of what's going on in their minds. He makes clear that communication is the key to human relationships.
Gorky's writing was very simple and easy to follow. Nevertheless it was a fine story...
So Gorky here tells a story of a female who is lonely and doesn't have any interactions with the outside world. Did he go deeper to analyze her psychology and behaviour? Probably not but what he gave us was enough (considering the length of the story as well)
The narrator was quick to judge the woman and later regrets it.
So the moral of the story -briefly- is not to be prejudiced towards others when we are clueless of what's going on in their minds. He makes clear that communication is the key to human relationships.
Gorky's writing was very simple and easy to follow. Nevertheless it was a fine story...
May 13, 2017
A (very) short, quirky little story by Gorky, available free online:Here
The story tells of a student in Moscow living across from a Polish woman "whose repute is questionable". He holds her in disdain, and actively avoids her.
When she approaches him and asks him to write a letter to her lover, he does so. A week or two later she approaches him to write another letter, this time from her lover to her. The student becomes angry, accusing her of telling him a pack of lies.
Eventually he sits down and asks her what is going on. A lonely woman, she takes her letters to another who, believing them to be real reads them out to her, giving her the opportunity to pretend they are, and that she is happy.
The student realises that he has misjudged her - and writes letters for he from that time on, until she is put in prison some 3 months later.
4 stars.
Petra's review is much deeper than mine, and takes the analysis deeper than mine. Go read that review: Petra's Review
The story tells of a student in Moscow living across from a Polish woman "whose repute is questionable". He holds her in disdain, and actively avoids her.
When she approaches him and asks him to write a letter to her lover, he does so. A week or two later she approaches him to write another letter, this time from her lover to her. The student becomes angry, accusing her of telling him a pack of lies.
Eventually he sits down and asks her what is going on. A lonely woman, she takes her letters to another who, believing them to be real reads them out to her, giving her the opportunity to pretend they are, and that she is happy.
The student realises that he has misjudged her - and writes letters for he from that time on, until she is put in prison some 3 months later.
4 stars.
Petra's review is much deeper than mine, and takes the analysis deeper than mine. Go read that review: Petra's Review
March 6, 2024
"the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things , the more it hungers after the sweet thing of life"
za krotka!!!
za krotka!!!
February 21, 2017
2,5
Racconto troppo breve per essere apprezzato pienamente. Gorky tratta il tema della solitudine, ma purtroppo non c'è un'introspezione psicologica dei personaggi. Gli avvenimenti vengono affrontati in modo superficiale e frettoloso. Peccato perché il tema era interessante e lo stile letterario è meraviglioso.
Racconto troppo breve per essere apprezzato pienamente. Gorky tratta il tema della solitudine, ma purtroppo non c'è un'introspezione psicologica dei personaggi. Gli avvenimenti vengono affrontati in modo superficiale e frettoloso. Peccato perché il tema era interessante e lo stile letterario è meraviglioso.
September 6, 2016
Short yet thought provoking! A tale about human isolation, stereotype and being a women in Russian tales not so pretty or sweet as Natasha) Rostova or Anna Karenina.
Read with the group. Can find the discussion @ Discovering Russian Literature.
Read with the group. Can find the discussion @ Discovering Russian Literature.
June 9, 2019
A little story about loneliness..
August 17, 2021
LOVED IT!
December 24, 2017
It reminded me of a film called Her (2013)
August 10, 2024
The more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life.
A good short story which tells us the importance of social life, relationships and judgements we make on others without actually knowing (about) them.
A good short story which tells us the importance of social life, relationships and judgements we make on others without actually knowing (about) them.
June 28, 2014
Failed attempt to portray the pains of a lonely woman and a boy who forms am opinion of the woman merely by glancing at the facade. The character of the woman wasn't developed enough to show that she was really in pain. The spinster in Hitchcock's 'Rear window' would have been apt for this story. I guess this is my first read of Gorky. I must read more by him since I would be committing the same mistake as the boy if I make a judgement just by reading one story.
January 14, 2019
I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:
"While the morale's fine,
Why return to one person
To write for both names?"
(...I mean, the lady did say she had someone else literate enough to read for her, after all.)
"While the morale's fine,
Why return to one person
To write for both names?"
(...I mean, the lady did say she had someone else literate enough to read for her, after all.)
August 8, 2012
Everybody lives for something better to come. That's why we want to be considerate of every man— Who knows what's in him, why he was born and what he can do?
November 5, 2012
Very much liked the voice of the narrator
April 5, 2019
Found online. For anyone interested the link is below.
November 19, 2025
«Ε λοιπόν, όσο πιο πολύ έχει γευτεί κανείς την πίκρα, τόσο πιο πολύ διψάει για τη γλύκα της ζωής. Κι εμείς, τυλιγμένοι στα κουρέλια της αρετής μας, κοιτάζουμε τους άλλους μέσα από την καταχνιά της αυτάρεσκης αυτάρκειάς μας, πεπισμένοι για την καθολική μας αναμαρτησία, και δεν καταλαβαίνουμε τίποτα.»
"Ο Εραστής Της" του Μαξίμ Γκόρκι είναι ένα πολύ σύντομο διήγημα, που μιλά για τη μοναξιά και τον κοινωνικό στιγματισμό. Αυτό που μένει είναι η απομόνωση, η ανάγκη για τρυφερότητα και οι ψευδαισθήσεις που γίνονται καταφύγιο όταν ο κόσμος γύρω μας δείχνει την περιφρόνησή του.
Αν και ιδιαίτερα απλό, μου άρεσε πολύ.
"Ο Εραστής Της" του Μαξίμ Γκόρκι είναι ένα πολύ σύντομο διήγημα, που μιλά για τη μοναξιά και τον κοινωνικό στιγματισμό. Αυτό που μένει είναι η απομόνωση, η ανάγκη για τρυφερότητα και οι ψευδαισθήσεις που γίνονται καταφύγιο όταν ο κόσμος γύρω μας δείχνει την περιφρόνησή του.
Αν και ιδιαίτερα απλό, μου άρεσε πολύ.
September 29, 2020
Loneliness.
Prejudice.
She has an imaginary friend.
He assumes the worst in her.
She allows loneness to create a wall against society.
He allows prejudice to fortify that wall.
Once that wall comes down, both benefit each other's acquaintance.
Well, well, the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round in the rags of our virtues, and regarding others through the mist of our self-sufficiency, and persuaded of our universal impeccability, do not understand this.
Prejudice.
She has an imaginary friend.
He assumes the worst in her.
She allows loneness to create a wall against society.
He allows prejudice to fortify that wall.
Once that wall comes down, both benefit each other's acquaintance.
Well, well, the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round in the rags of our virtues, and regarding others through the mist of our self-sufficiency, and persuaded of our universal impeccability, do not understand this.
March 22, 2025
Demented Polish lady conceives a Friend.
‘Well, well, the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round in the rags of our virtues, and regarding others through the mist of our self-sufficiency, and persuaded of our universal impeccability, do not understand this.’
‘Well, well, the more a human creature has tasted of bitter things the more it hungers after the sweet things of life. And we, wrapped round in the rags of our virtues, and regarding others through the mist of our self-sufficiency, and persuaded of our universal impeccability, do not understand this.’
June 1, 2021
It's a thought-provoking read that talks about loneliness in a beautiful manner - how we crave for human connection and how the lack of it plays with our minds. We all need company and companionship, which is what has been conveyed in a crisp, potent manner in this short story.
December 12, 2024
The society has a lot of stereotypes about every person they see. Which may sometimes make the person feel left out and lonely. The story shares the same situation of women who then try to reduce her loneliness in her own way.
February 27, 2021
كلما ذاق الانسان المرارة، زاد تعطشه لحلاوة الحياة. ونحن الملفوفون بالفضائل، الناظرون إلى الآخرين من فوق سُحب اكتفائنا، المقتنعون بكمال عوالمنا.. لا نفهم هذا. ثم تمضي الأمور أكثر غباء وقسوة.
November 21, 2021
En rørende og vigtig historie om ensomhed, udstødelse og hvor hårdt livet var for de laveste klasser, men også om hvordan mennesker kan mødes og finde hinanden i empati og blive noget bedre.
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December 30, 2021A tale of loneliness
November 8, 2023
صد حیف که گورکی آخرش بالای منبر رفت وگرنه خود داستان به خودی خود عالی بود و ترزا شخصیتی به یادماندنی
April 15, 2024
So sad and beautiful
July 28, 2024
R.I.P Teresa you would’ve loved C.AI
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews