A dramatic writer who enjoyed a long-standing success was A. I. PALM (1823-1885). In 1849 he was arrested for having frequented persons belonging to the circle of Petrashévskiy (see DOSTOYÉVSKIY), and from that time his life was a series of misfortunes, so that he returned to literary activity only at the age of fifty. He belonged to the generation of Turguéneff, and, knowing well that type of noblemen, whom the great novelist has depicted so well in his _Hamlets_, he wrote several comedies from the life of their circles. _The Old Nobleman_ and _Our Friend Neklúzheff_ were till lately favourite plays on the stage. The actor, I. E. TCHERNYSHÓFE, who wrote several comedies and one serious drama, _A Spoiled Life_, which produced a certain impression in 1861; N. SOLOVIÓFF, and a very prolific writer, V. A. KRYLÓFF (ALEXÁNDROFF), must also be mentioned in this brief sketch. And finally, two young writers have brought out lately comedies and dramatic scenes which have produced a deep sensation. I mean ANTON TCHÉHOFF, whose drama _Ivánoff_ was a few years ago the subject of the most passionate discussions, and MAXÍM GÓRKIY, whose drama, _The Artisans_, undoubtedly reveals a dramatic talent, while his just published “dramatic scenes,” _At the Bottom_--they are only scenes, without an attempt at building a drama--are extremely powerful, and even eclipse his best sketches. More will be said of them in the next chapter. FOOTNOTES: [22] Shakespeare has always been a great favourite in Russia, but his dramas require a certain wealth of scenery not always at the disposal of the Small Theatre. [23] Taken from the excellent translation of Mrs. C. Garnett (_The Storm_, London, Duckworth & Co., 1899). PART VII Folk-Novelists CHAPTER VII FOLK-NOVELISTS Their Position in Russian Literature--The Early Folk-Novelists:--Grigoróvitch--Márko Vovtchók--Danilévskiy--Intermediate Period: Kókoreff--Písemskiy--Potyékhin--Ethnographical Researches--The Realistic School:--Pomyalóvskiy--Ryeshétnikoff--Levítoff--Gleb Uspénskiy--Zlatovrátskiy and other Folk-Novelists--Naúmoff--Zasódimskiy--Sáloff--Nefédoff--Modern Realism: Maxím Górkiy.