My university, written in 1924, describes Gorky's youth life. Gorky first went to Kazan in the hope of entering a university. Because of his life, he was only edified in another university without walls-society. Besides meeting some real college students, Gorky also lives with poor citizens, workers, gangs and prostitutes. Among them, Gorky understood the sufferings of social people and saw the awakening consciousness of some of them. Gorky also grew up in a social university. The novel tells the story of 16-year-old hero, full of the desire to go to college, bidding farewell to his elderly grandmother and coming to Kazan city on the Volga River from Nizhny Novgorod. When he arrived in Kazan, the hero clearly saw that the harsh real life suddenly dashed his good wish to go to college, because he had to face up to life and work for survival first. So the slums, despicable streets and ship docks of Kazan became his first social university on the road of life.

My university described his activities and growing experience in Kazan. He 16 years old came to Kazan with the hope of going to college, but his dream could not be realized. The slums and docks of Kazan became his social university. He has no place to live and shares a bed with others. Working in docks, bakeries and grocery stores. Later, due to contact with college students, middle school students, members of secret groups and revolutionaries exiled from Siberia, their thoughts changed. He read works of revolutionary democracy and Marxism until he took part in revolutionary activities. Under the guidance of revolutionaries, he got rid of the mental crisis of suicide. During his four years in Kazan, his thoughts, knowledge and social experience have made great progress.

Oh, I hope it helps you. ~