In the World

"In the World" by Maxim Gorky is a tale set in the late 1800s that follows a boy navigating his difficult new life. As a shop assistant in a boot store, he endures cruel treatment from his boss, his cousin, and a fellow worker. Inside the shop and in the house, he witnesses the unpleasant truths about society, like stealing, money problems, and the tricky relationships between people. Readers immediately find themselves in the boy's world as readers witness the challenges he faces as a shop worker, dealing with an abrasive boss and the negativity of others. He feels alone and sad, missing his old life. Readers meet interesting people, like his cousin Sascha and a mean cook, and through those interactions, Gorky paints a vivid picture of a suffocating atmosphere and a young boy's emotional struggles, setting the scene for a deep study of humanity and society.