Not one of K. G. Karunathilaka’s best anthologies, purely due to the nature of the stories, not the translation. The translation, as usual, is top notch. There are some genuinely strong stories here, but also a few flatfooted and outright boring ones. Still, it’s a great dive into the world of Maxim Gorky, the world of the poor and the suffering. These stories should be read on an empty stomach to really feel their weight.