Maxim Gorky's exploration of his own encounter with the Orloffs, this short story follows the lives of a Russian family and delves into the monotony of everyday life. When an unexpected guest arrives in the city, the grey haze of what is 'normal' is broken, and accepted values begin to be scrutinized. Why can a man beat his wife? Why must his wife take the beating stoically? Why does everyone else pretend it doesn't happen? A reminder that every voice deserves to be heard, no matter how small, this is ideal for fans of classic Russian authors and their realism, such as Leo Tolstoy.