This book is a collection of selected short stories by the prominent Russian and Soviet writer Maksim Gorky. The compilation includes his famous early romantic masterpieces, such as "Makar Chudra" and "Old Izergil", alongside the realistic, socially-charged tale "Chelkash". Through these works, Gorky vividly portrays the lives of ordinary people, vagabonds, and outcasts, exploring deep themes of human dignity, absolute freedom, and the clash between egoism and self-sacrifice. The edition is intended for students, researchers of Russian literature, and a broad audience of fiction lovers.