The paper analyzes the works of Mikhail Shesterikov, a Soviet poet and opinion journalist, about Maxim Gorky. Written after Gorky’s death, articles by Shesterikov contain reminiscences about his meetings with Gorky in 1934 at the first Congress of Soviet Writers. Poems dedicated to Gorky reflect on the main landmarks in the life of Gorky and create an image of a «great singer of the Russian revolution». The analysis is aimed at identifying the logic of portraying Gorky in the works of Shesterikov, and different aspects of Gorky’s literary portrait. A particular focus is on the originality of motifs in each poem and on the unique identity of these poems' lyrical hero. The analysis employs literary historical, biographical and cultural history methods that underlie well-grounded conclusions about the importance of Gorky’s personality and art for Shesterikov as a poet.
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