The Judge, A Play in Four Acts was originally published in 1924. Maxim Gorky (Alexei Maximovich Peshkov)(1868-1936) was one of the greatest Russian writers. He inherited the best traditions of 19th century classical Russian literature and was at the same time the creator of a new art, socialist realism; he laid the foundations of the young Soviet Literature. In the early years of the last century Gorky came under the influence of Anton Chekhov and through him established contact with Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovish-Danchenko, the leading figures of the Moscow Art Theatre; for this theatre he wrote his plays Philistines and The Lower Depths. The Lower Depths made a triumphant tour of many European countries and brought the writer world fame. The writer’s influence on the Soviet people has been enormous; from 1917 to 1946 his books were published in 66 languages with a total printing of 42,000,000 copies. His pen and his civic activities were a powerful weapon against fascism. The enemy realized this and in 1936 fascist agents killed Maxim Gorky. They were, however, unable to kill the courageous, fiery and eternally living words of the great Soviet writer, which are so carefully preserved and esteemed by the liberty loving peoples of the whole world.