Shadow of great britain

In the 19th century British literary stage, Elder Carter is undoubtedly a name that cannot be avoided.

Every writer has his own profound personal style. Just as Wordsworth's works are full of deep love for nature and delicate observation of the human mind. His poems express a deep understanding of life and human nature through the description of natural scenery.

Byron's poems are full of strong personal emotions and rebellious spirit. His works are famous for their passion, romance and challenge to social norms.

Mr. Carter's friend in the Pickwick Club, Dickens, focused on revealing all aspects of British society during the Industrial Revolution. He vividly depicted poverty, oppression and injustice, but also showed the tenacity and kindness of human nature.

Tennyson, the poet laureate who also belonged to the Pickwick Club, was famous for his beautiful language and profound thoughts. He expressed his profound thoughts on modern society and human destiny through the reinterpretation of classical themes.

Compared with Arthur Hastings, whose writing style and behavior style are completely different, Elder Carter, who is also a politician, maintains a high degree of consistency in his writing style. He is unique in the political field, and his novel style is also unique in the literary world, but he rarely uses his works as a propaganda tool for political propositions like Benjamin Disraeli.

Such a creative style is an unstoppable torrent in the British literary world where pastoral romanticism prevailed at that time. As the successor of Sir Walter Scott, the founder of historical novels, Carter's creative style is closer to the contemporary French literary giant Alexandre Dumas. He is good at depicting the magnificence of historical scenes and the realism of details through bold strokes, making readers feel as if they are in that era.

Whether it is the conspiracy of the court or the fighting scene on the battlefield, Carter can describe it vividly with his exquisite writing. In addition, his works are full of profound analysis of human nature, revealing the complexity and multifaceted nature of human nature through the fate changes of historical figures.

This writing style also makes it popular in France across the Channel. Carter's debut work "Robinson the Robin" is the second batch of British historical literature works published in France after Walter Scott.

He established a good reputation among French readers with this book, and it has been unstoppable since then. In the best-selling list of French bookstores in the mid-19th century, Elder Carter's works have long been among the top.

His literary achievements are not only the artistic value of the works themselves, but also his improvement and innovation of the literary genre of historical novels. Carter injected new life and vitality into historical novels through his outstanding literary talent, and profoundly influenced George Eliot, Charles Kingsley, Robert Stevenson and others, making the British historical novel genre an important part of the world's literary hall.

His immortal literary creation skills allow history to reappear on paper, allowing countless readers to feel the pulse of history and the power of humanity through his words. His works are not only literary treasures of that era, but also eternal cultural heritage of mankind.

——George Saintsbury, "History of English Literature in the 19th Century"

The main purpose of literary criticism should be to help readers distinguish good books from bad books.

——Arthur Hastings

There is no doubt that "The Origin of Species" written by my friend Mr. Darwin is a masterpiece. He explains many things that science could not explain before.

——Alexandre Dumas

Natural selection may affect all organisms, whether plants or animals, whether the highest or the lowest.

——Charles Darwin

Great people discuss ideas, ordinary people discuss events, and small-minded people discuss others.

——Elder Carter

In the Waele Hotel, Arthur looked at Heine, who was sitting next to him and eating and drinking, and sighed for no reason.

Since Arthur came to Paris, he has not completed any of the tasks assigned to him by the British Foreign Office, but he has successfully completed the task of closely monitoring Heine, the German angry youth, for the Prussian police.

Before Arthur knew these literary masters of the era, these invisible and intangible great men always looked poor in his eyes.

But when he actually came into contact with it, he found that most of what was written in the book was a lie.

It is true that some of these guys are unlucky and can't even afford to eat, but most of them are poor and destitute because of their own fault. In this era, it seems that you can't be a literary giant if you don't owe money. Even if you don't have a penny in your pocket, they are absolutely unwilling to lower their living standards.

If you find that these people really start to eat black bread, it is not because they start to reflect, but because they have borrowed money from all relatives and friends who can lend them money, and no one is willing to lend them money anymore.

Take Heine as an example. He is from a thoroughly upper-middle-class Prussian family. Although the Heine family is not as well-known in Germany as the Rothschild family and the Mendelssohn family, it is also a Jewish banking family. In other words, if Heine had a bad background, he would not have learned so many bad habits of spending money lavishly.

However, Heine has many advantages over other bohemian writers, that is, he knows a reliable publisher friend. The last few months have been especially lucky, as this friend has recently been in Paris.

Of course, Heine was an ethical poet, and he would never accept such aid that was close to charity. Therefore, in order to thank Arthur for the money that had just been transferred to his account and for the recent series of cultural and entertainment activities, Heine took advantage of his subjective initiative, regardless of whether Arthur needed it or not. Why not publish a few wasp farts in the Globe and use the banner of Arthur Hastings to combat Liszt's arrogance?

However, although the articles are all false. However, no one can underestimate the influence of the name Heinrich Heine in Paris. Relying on Heine's vigorous enthusiasm for writing, today's Parisian citizens and literary and artistic circles have experienced three stages of transformation.

When Heine published his first article, everyone would just hold the newspaper and frown and ask: "Who is Arthur Hastings?"

A month ago, everyone would point to the newspaper title and say to their companions: "This is Arthur Hastings."

But now, when these gentlemen and ladies hear that someone knows nothing about this name, they will only cover their mouths with fans and ask with horror on their faces: "What! Don't you know Arthur Hastings?"

You ask me why Arthur knows so much about these things?

That's because he had just been questioned by a lady next to him when he was enjoying Chopin's performance at the Paris Opera House yesterday and discussing music with a lady who seemed to be very educated.

"Heinrich...I said..."

Arthur took the champagne from the waiter but hesitated: "Have you posted more frequently recently?"

Heine put one hand on the back of the velvet chair and held the wine glass against Arthur with the other.

It can be seen from the proud smile on his face that this treasure of German poetry has been in a good mood recently: "I have indeed written too much in my recent manuscripts, but it is all thanks to you, Arthur. I find that you are simply My lucky star, since you came to Paris, my ideas have been flowing. By the way, aren't you going to Hannover to take up a post? I plan to sort out the recent manuscripts, translate them into German and submit them to the local newspaper in Hannover. Go. There’s not much I can do, and that’s all I can do for my friends.”

"You still plan to submit the manuscript to Hannover?"

Heine didn't hide it. He took a sip of wine and said bluntly: "Of course, it's not all for you. Liszt is going to give concerts in various German states in the second half of the year, and I plan to replace our piano player in advance. Tyrant, please let the German people know that there is more than one Liszt who can play the piano in Europe. Arthur, you don’t know Germany. Our country bumpkins don’t have much knowledge. As soon as they hear something coming from Paris, they will immediately It will be offered as a family heirloom. If I don’t cool down this fiery emotion in advance, I’m afraid Liszt will succeed again.”

Arthur was a bit dumbfounded by this. He shook his head regretfully: "Heinrich, then you should choose Chopin to compete with Liszt. In terms of piano performance, there is no way for Liszt and I to compete on the same stage. "

Heine said indifferently: "Arthur, you don't understand. If Mr. Chopin is French, of course there is no problem, but the problem is that he is a Pole, and his character is too shy."

“What’s wrong with the Poles?”

"This is a big problem!"

Heine solemnly explained to Arthur: "You have to know that there is discrimination between nations. You may not have deep feelings about this because you are an Englishman, and this is the most recognized among the British. nation. However, Jews like me, who are discriminated against everywhere, know this very well.

Although the Germans look down on each other, the Prussians look down on the Bavarians, and the Bavarians look down on the Austrians, these people unanimously regard the French as a nation with a higher status. What comes from France is fashion and trend, French is the most beautiful language, and the French system is also a representative of advanced things. Of course, Britain is also the object of their envy.

However, it should be noted that these are the only two places they envy. Looking eastward from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Russia are all a bunch of country bumpkins, and the more eastward you go, the more serious this discriminatory mentality becomes. No matter how good Mr. Chopin plays the piano, he is as good as or even better than Liszt, but it is difficult for him to recover from the losses he suffered as a nation in terms of playing skills. "

Arthur couldn't help but ask: "Is this view too philistine?"

"Pitty bourgeois? That's right!"

Heine said seriously: "Cities in every country are crowded with small citizens. Can we still expect them to evaluate literature and music from an objective and fair standpoint? On the issue of stance , most people have preconceptions, and if you want your books to sell well, you have to cater to the common people’s thinking.”

When Arthur heard this, he suddenly put down his cigar anxiously: "Heinrich."

"What's wrong?"

Arthur held his forehead and said in distress: "I'm suddenly worried about the sales of your new book "On the Romantics". Wouldn't it be too reckless for us to print 3,000 copies of the first edition?"

Heine heard this and quickly dissuaded him: "Arthur, this is different. The positioning of our "British" is for the middle class with a certain knowledge reserve. Among all European countries, Britain has the largest number of middle classes. . Only printing three thousand copies, I think you are too cautious."

"I hope so."

Arthur glanced at the bill handed over by the waiter, held his forehead and blinked painfully: "I don't have high requirements for the circulation of "On Romantics", at least the cost is covered. By the way, there are also Mr. Andersen’s collection of poems is unknown in the UK, and I don’t know if it can be an instant success. If it is not successful, then with "On the Romantics", the short-term cash flow pressure of "The British" will be a bit big."

"Kein Mühlenbrot ohne Mühlstein."

"What did you say?"

Heine raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "There is a German proverb, there is no bread in the mill without a millstone. If you want to get results, you must have the necessary tools or resources. I believe that "The British" must have the tools and resources in this regard. I When I lived in London, I had never heard of The British. But when I went to London the year before last, you had become a literary magazine on par with Blackwood. This is not something that ordinary people can do. You can do it. Arthur, I'm not a fool, you have a knack for success."

"If you must say I have a knack, it's that, as you just said, we have always done a good job of catering to the views of ordinary citizens."

Arthur lit his cigar and said: "The success of "The British" is inseparable from Elder's help. Our early distribution channels were almost opened up by that guy on his own. In this regard, he is indeed a businessman." The Royal Navy may have hired him because of his ability to clear channels, so he was sent to carry out the global scientific expedition. "

"As for Mr. Carter, I have heard you mention it to Alexander and Charles many times. He does sound like a legend. If there is a chance, you can introduce him to me after he comes back from the sea."

"I seem to have heard someone mention Elder Carter?" As soon as Heine finished speaking, a burst of laughter suddenly came from not far away.

Arthur looked around and saw that they were three guests who had just come up from the first floor. The two on the left and the right were unknown to Arthur, but the one in the middle was recognized by Arthur even if he took off his clothes. That was the one with unusual habits. Mr. Victor Hugo.

Hugo saw Arthur and Heine here, so he introduced them both with a smile: "Arthur, Heinrich, we were chatting with you two just now, and we didn't expect that we happened to meet here. I'm here to introduce you two." You introduced me to Mr. Charles Gassuline, the most famous publisher in Paris, who published my "Notre Dame de Paris" on his behalf. The person next to me is Mr. Henri de Lesset, who should be the two of you. We are old acquaintances, right? Mr. Draisaitl said that when he was in London, his bank used to handle deposits for you. "