Dvadtsat shest i odna

work by Gorky

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June 25, 2026

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"Dvadtsat shest i odna," also known as "Twenty-six Men and a Girl," is a short story by Maxim Gorky, published in Russian in 1899. The story is a psychological portrayal of bakers who endure harsh working conditions and find solace in their admiration for a local seamstress named Tanya.1

The narrative is told from the perspective of one of the bakers, detailing their miserable lives and their idealized view of Tanya. Their worship turns to revulsion when they discover she has been seduced. Tanya, in turn, confronts the bakers for their intrusive worship, leading to her departure and the bakers' realization of their loss. The story was praised for Gorky's sympathetic portrayal and rhythmic prose. It is considered one of his best short stories and highlights his focus on the struggles of the working class.12

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Maxim Gorky
First stories
“Dvadtsat shest i odna” (1899; “Twenty-Six Men and a Girl”), describing the sweated labour conditions in a bakery, is often regarded as his best short story. So great was the success of these works that Gorky’s reputation quickly soared, and he began to be spoken…
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“Dvadtsat shest i odna” (1899; “Twenty-Six Men and a Girl”), describing the sweated labour conditions in a bakery, is often regarded as his best short story. So great was the success of these works that Gorky’s reputation quickly soared, and he began to be spoken…
Read More