GORKY MAXIM: (1868-1936) Alexei Maximovich Peshkov. Russian Writer and political socialist Activist. L.S., `M. Gorky´, in Cyrillic, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in French. The letter bears the printed heading ''10, Via Dei Rossia'' and the hand-written text is in the hand of Gorky´s second wife Maria Andreeva Peshkova, also signing at the base `Marie Peshkov´, saying `We regret very much not having met you.. If you are still not leaving tomorrow, Mr. Trenta(?) costa and wife ask you to come and have dinner at their home tomorrow evening at 7 and a half.´ With blank integral leaf. Folded, with very small overall creasing, otherwise G £600-900 Maria Feodorovna Yurkovskaya (1868-1953) Her stage name being Maria Andreeva. For more than 15 years, Gorky had an affair with Maria Andreeva, an actress at the Moscow Art Theatre. She broke up with famous philanthropist and millionaire Savva Morozov to be with Gorky. Morozov was Maxim's friend, and not offended by the couple's relationship, he even continued providing Andreeva with money. Her trip with Gorky to the United States became a great scandal as journalists found out that Russian lovers were not officially married, and Gorky's wife was waiting for him in Russia. Some Americans kicked the couple out of the hotels they stayed in, and others also refused to provide accommodation.