Gorky does something that most writers when talking about other writers they knew do not often seem to be able to do; he removes himself from the picture. It's not that he's not there--he is, but he doesn't let his own opinions or interpretation of the others' words to interfere with our reception of the writers he is describing. Not that Gorky doesn't have opinions on them, but he is very subtle, allowing the reader to judge for himself what these three writers are like. Andreev, not nearly at the same stature as Tolstoy or Chekhov, was a respected writer for a while and since he was part of the group that often visited Tolstoy, I can see why he is included--though most Westerners have not ever heard of him. ( )