Gorky's dramatic novel , written in exile and first published in 1926, The tragedy of , What the writer called “Iron Men” merchants and industrialists , And they made their way down the road. who have given their children an excellent education and are unable to understand their interests , ideals and aspirations. Before the reader passes the life of three generations of the Artamonov family - indomitable Ilya Vasilyevich , A man with a wolf's grip and wolf's jaws , his sons the severe workaholic Peter and the religious righteous Nikita and grandchildren , They belong to a different generation ,. a classical representative of the Russian intelligentsia Ilya and frivolous Bonvivan and life-loving Jacob . Family ties are destroyed and death threatens the cause for which so much work has been put.