Sweden,
Stockholm,
The splendid palaces, majestic churches, towering spiers, and narrow streets and alleys show the medieval style.
The Swedish Academy is located in it,
It was founded in 1786 by King Gustaf III of Sweden and modeled after the French Academy. It has 18 academicians.
Because it is a lifelong system, there are only 18 members. Whenever an academician dies, the Academy of Arts can add new members on its own and submit it to the king for approval.
But because the constitutional monarchy weakens the power of the king, most of this "approval" is a process.
In addition to academicians, the college also has presidents and deputy presidents.
Then there is the position of permanent secretary.
The current Permanent Secretary is Carl David Af Wilson,
At this time, he was busy in the roundtable room dealing with the list of nominees for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Someone behind him asked: "Karl, isn't it over yet?"
Wilson turned around,
In front of me is a Swedish man in his fifties.
The male has almost no urban atmosphere, but a certain dryness, and the facial features are extremely firm, three-dimensional, and even a bit abrupt.
This man's name is Hans Ludwig Fussell, the first chair of the Swedish Academy.
The "first seat" here sounds very quaint.
But this is not a joke, but the tenure of academicians leads to a fixed number of seats, so that the academicians of the Swedish Academy look like King Arthur's knights, and their meetings are like the Round Table Council, which looks very retro.
"I'm looking at writers from Asia," Wilson said.
He pointed out a name,
"Have you ever heard of Hu Hongming?"
Fussell corrected: "Should it be pronounced 'Gong'? Gong Hongming, just like Gunnar."
Gunnar Wennerberg holds the second chair at the Swedish Academy.
Wilson muttered in his heart,
In the spelling of "Gunnar", isn't there one more letter 'n' than in "Gu"?
But he did not ask, but continued: "Many of Gong Hongming's works are good. I just don't know if I can contact him now. As you know, China is currently fighting with a bunch of countries. "
"There is no beating of life, only beating of death," Fussell said.
It is impossible for the Qing government to survive.
Wilson couldn't help but complain: "You are really a typical affairs officer with no empathy."
As he said, Forsell currently serves in the Swedish government.
Fussell curled his lips.
"I'm just competent, upright and efficient."
This is obviously a joke.
Wilson couldn't help but make an exaggerated vomiting gesture.
The reason why both of them can joke like this even though they are both academicians is that when Wilson was an editor of "Swedish Literary Review", they had collaborated and published two volumes of literary criticism.
Wilson said: "I didn't expect Ice and Snow to tell jokes."
Fussell heard that the other party was complaining about the bad jokes he told, so he didn't respond and turned to talk about the Nobel Prize in Literature.
“Forget it about Asia?”
Wilson scratched his head,
"how?"
Fussell said: "Three or four Asian writers are enough. Isn't there one named Rabindranath Tagore?"
Wilson smiled and said, "And Lu."
Upon hearing this special pen name, Fussell fell silent.
He is a fan of "Roger Mystery".
After a while, he said: "If "Roger Mystery" had been written in Chinese, it would never have achieved the current success."
This is no exaggeration,
English is the most powerful language in the world, bar none.
Writing in English naturally has a readership that far exceeds that of other languages. Even if the Qing government claimed that there were 400 million people in China, it still could not compare.
Fussell reiterated: "A few nominations from Asia will be enough."
In the early days, the regional nature of the Nobel Prize in Literature was obvious.
Russia's weight is very light, and except for India, Asia is basically ignored.
But there is South Africa.
Wilson said: "I'm really right, you are really a 'frozen man'."
This time it was said that Fussell was cold-blooded and had no empathy.
Fussell shrugged.
"Oh, don't just talk about me. Isn't Tolstoy also on the list?"
The 18 academicians all tacitly avoided Russia.
All I can say is that everyone who understands understands.
Wilson touched his nose awkwardly and was about to explain a few words when he heard a sudden knock on the door outside.
He raised his voice,
"Come in."
Immediately a clerk rushed into the room.
"Mr. Wilson, there was a telegram from London that was sent directly to the British Consulate, and someone was sent over there."
Many universities in the UK have a large number of international students who are relatively wealthy, so they can send and receive telegrams by themselves.
The Swedish Academy does not have this condition, and it is very inconvenient to send and receive telegrams.
Wilson took the telegram and after reading only two lines, he couldn't help but frowned and muttered: "There's trouble."
Fussell came closer;
"how?"
As he asked, he also read the telegram.
Both of them are well-known figures in the literary world. They read ten lines at a glance and finished it in a short time.
Fussell murmured to himself: "Lu Shi is really... hum..."
Wilson said, "What should I do?"
Fussell pondered for a moment and said: "We still have to consider this issue from Mr. Nobel's will. The will stipulates that the winner of the literary prize must 'create the best work with an ideal tendency.'"
Wilson was surprised,
"Isn't Mr. Tolstoy not ideal enough?"
Fussell shook his head.
"His current works are full of anarchism and fatalistic thoughts. What does this have to do with the so-called 'ideal tendency'?"
Red lips and white teeth, the upper and lower lips touched, and a reason was created abruptly.
If I had known, the later winner Kawabata Yasunari was a typical nihilist, and had nothing to do with the word "ideal".
Wilson said: "What about Chekov?"
Fussell glanced at the telegram and said,
"There's no mention of Chekov either..."
Wilson said: "I am worried that those British guys from the London University Union will move out Russians one after another to make foreign workers."
Fussell thought for a while and said: "Mark Twain and O. Henry were not nominated, and short stories are not considered for the first Nobel Prize in Literature for the time being. And, you know, this is not an excuse, but We made a decision before."
Wilson lowered his head in thought and did not reply.
Fussell added: "Still worried?"
Wilson couldn't help but sigh,
"Don't forget, Lu Shi is a popular writer and playwright who has continuously released hits, and Bernard Shaw is even more famous. They are not the kind of people who are popular but not popular. If something goes wrong, they may not be able to survive. ah."
This makes sense.
Fussell couldn't help but frown.
At this time, there was another knock on the door.
Wilson shouted irritably: "Come in."
It's the same clerk,
Seeing that Wilson was not in a high mood, he walked in cautiously and whispered: "Sir, there is also a telegram from Cambridge. Please read it."
The telegram was handed over.
Wilson finished reading it quickly and said helplessly: "There are also questions at Cambridge. If historians like Theodor Monson can participate in the selection, then why are literary giants like Tolstoy not nominated?"
"A harsh wording?" Fussell said.
Wilson looked at it again,
"I feel like it's just a simple inquiry and no accusation."
Fussell frowned;
"'Feel'?"
Wilson glared at him and said, "English is not my first language, so I don't dare to vouch for it. How about you come and read it?"
Fussell waved his hand.
"No more reading."
He thought for a moment and said: "Just reply as I said. Mr. Nobel's will stipulates that the winner of the Literature Prize must 'create the best work with an ideal tendency'. There is no more appropriate reason than this." "
Wilson asked: "Unified reply?"
Fussell nodded.
"That's right, a unified reply."
Wilson asked again: "What about Lu Shi and Bernard Shaw? They have clearly proposed to withdraw from this selection. The University of London Alliance is also preparing to give up."
Fussell smiled,
"It doesn't matter. Just invite more people in the future and show your sincerity."
As long as the Nobel Prize can make a name for itself in the first year, I am not afraid that these people will not lower their arrogant heads.
Who doesn't love being famous and profitable?
Fussell urged: "Hurry up and write the telegram. We are still pointing at Cambridge..."
Halfway through the words, there was a knock on the door again.
Dong dong dong——
Wilson immediately asked: "Who is it this time?"
The clerk said as he pushed the door open: "This time it's a telegram from Oxford."
Wilson shook his head,
"Come on, here comes another one."
He immersed himself in writing the telegram and said to himself: "Let me see, let's make a universal template."
…
Cambridge.
King's College.
In a huge conference room, a group of professors from the School of Liberal Arts and the School of Languages were gathering together to study the preliminary works for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Suddenly, someone said: "I don't know what it means."
All the professors raised their heads and looked at the speaker.
The man coughed awkwardly and said: "The drama written by Tagore is pretty good, but the poetry is too average. As expected of a student of the University of London."
Is this how the word "worthy" is used?
Everyone laughed.
Tagore was indeed a graduate of University College London.
In 1878, he followed his father and brother's wishes and went to England to study. He initially studied law, but because he didn't like it, he transferred to University College London to study English literature and Western music.
James said: "It turns out that the University of London is angry~"
The crowd's laughter grew louder.
James continued: "We still have to be fair and impartial in the selection of this literary award."
He looked at Tagore's works,
"But you are right. Tagore's plays are somewhat telling and profoundly satirize the privileges and backward customs of Brahmin priests, but the poetry is indeed average and cannot be compared with Yeats, Hesse, and Prudhomme."
It’s not wrong to say that,
Tagore's truly powerful poetry collections, such as "Gitanjali", "The Birds", and "The Gardener" have not been published at this time.
James added: "Also, it may be that the English translation is inaccurate."
Everyone is puzzled,
"translate?"
James nodded,
"Didn't I visit Professor Lu before? He talked about the problem of translation. He gave an example in Chinese. I understood it, but it was a little difficult to repeat."
Chinese is still too difficult for James.
Someone said: "It seems that Tagore is still not qualified, let's leave it for now. The main problem now is Mr. Monson."
All the big guys in Cambridge were silent.
"History of Rome",
How would you evaluate this book from a literary perspective?
Absolutely hilarious!
They seriously suspected that the people at the Swedish Academy were out of their minds.
James said: "It doesn't matter, didn't you take the telegram? If the prediction is good, the Swedish Academy should remove Mr. Monson's nomination, or they may realize that adding Mr. Tolstoy is not impossible."
If Monson were removed, it would be a purely literary review, easy to say;
If Tolstoy is added, the winner will be undisputed, even better.
After listening to James' words, everyone was relieved from their working state, either stretching or yawning.
James also made himself a cup of tea.
At this time, a call came from outside: "Professor James, there is a telegram from Stockholm."
James opened the door, took the telegram and read it out loud:
"Foreword. According to the provisions of Mr. Nobel's will, the committee requires that the winner of the Literature Prize must create the best work with an ideal tendency. However, Mr. Tolstoy is troubled by fatalism and is not an optional person."
A professor asked: "What's behind? What should Mr. Munson do?"
James stared at the telegram and said nothing.
This attitude is roughly equivalent to an answer.
Someone murmured: "The Swedish Academy is really good."
The others echoed.
At this time, James whispered again: "Professor Lu and Mr. Xiao actually... actually..."
Everyone:? ? ?
Neither of them understood why Lu Shi and Bernard Shaw were suddenly mentioned.
James said: "For some reason, the British Consulate in Stockholm seemed to have sent the wrong telegram and sent us the telegram that should have been sent to the University of London Union."
As soon as he said this, a young professor said: "It's normal. He is the affairs officer of Great Britain~"
The others burst into laughter.
The young professor added: "Have you forgotten what it said in "Yes! Prime Minister"? 'Great Britain has always been a bad person in terms of not being a good person'."
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
People laughed louder.
After a while, the professors turned their attention to James.
Someone asked: "Montague, you just mentioned Professor Lu and Mr. Xiao. Is there any problem?"
James couldn't help but take a deep breath,
"They turned down a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature."
In an instant, silence struck,
"..."
"..."
"..."
The conference room felt like a pause button had been pressed.
James repeated: "Professor Lu and Mr. Xiao rejected the nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Moreover, the reason for their rejection was very straightforward. They criticized the Swedish Academy for not including Mr. Tolstoy on the nomination list."
There was another unspeakable silence.
Suddenly, someone laughed and said: "Indifferent to fame and wealth, noble sentiments."
This comment speaks to everyone's heart.
Discussions arose,
“Without Mr. Tolstoy’s literary award, is it still a literary award?”
"What I like about him is that he understands human nature."
"Not only human nature, but also descriptions and characterizations. He knows all about what kind of people will react under what circumstances."
…
Someone asked: "Montague, who is in charge of this?"
James looked at the telegram,
"Judging from this telegram, it was Professor Lu who first took the initiative to put forward the view that 'the Nobel Prize for Literature without Mr. Tolstoy is incomplete.' Later, Mr. Xiao was persuaded to withdraw from this selection. "
"It is indeed Professor Lu..."
The big guys in Cambridge said in unison.
In their hearts, Lu Shi was such a man of high moral character, noble spirit, and green pines and cypresses.
Suddenly, James spoke,
"I'm ready to quit too."
Everyone thought they heard wrongly and looked at him in shock.
James had a relaxed smile on his face,
"British gentlemen should be self-aware. As for the Nobel Prize in Literature... Is the Nobel Prize in Literature great?"
As soon as these words came out, the emotions of the others were ignited.
"You're right. Isn't the Nobel Prize for Literature awesome?"
"Hey, hey, I quit!"
"I won't do it either! The Swedish Academy has nominated so many authors, do you really think we are nothing?"
Recommend a friend’s book,
"West Coast American Ihehe",
Look at the name, hey hey hey, I understand everything.
(End of chapter)
