What working conditions are described in Maxim Gorky’s “Twenty-Six Men and a Girl”?

In the short story "Twenty-six Men and a Girl," Maxim Gorky depicts the lives of a group of bakers who endure a state of "misery." While the text focuses primarily on the psychological profile of these men and their idolization of a local girl, the narrative context reflects the harsh, oppressive realities of the Russian working class that Gorky frequently drew upon from his own life experiences.12

Gorky’s portrayal of such environments was informed by his own youth, during which he was forced into labor at age eight. He experienced firsthand the brutal conditions of the Russian working class, including being "frequently beaten by his employers," suffering from constant hunger, and being ill-clothed. These experiences of systemic exploitation and physical hardship were central to his literary work, as he sought to highlight the "seamy side of Russian life" and the struggles of social outcasts.23