If someone were to recommend one of the most professional and prestigious literary publications in our time, The Paris Review might not be number one, but it would definitely be on the list.

Many well-known writers in the world hail it as one of the few truly important literary magazines in the 20th century. Writers from many European and American countries are also proud that their works can be published in the "Paris Review" or interviewed by the "Paris Review".

Lin Chaoyang guessed that this was probably Gallimard Publishing House's show of goodwill or sincerity to him for rejecting Grasse Publishing House. In fact, this was also the reason why Lin Chaoyang rejected Grasse Publishing House and firmly chose Gallimard Publishing House.

reason

The royalty terms of Grasse Publishing House are indeed a bit more generous than those offered by Gallimard Publishing House, but Gallimard Publishing House has advantages that Grasse Publishing House cannot match.

Gallimard Publishing House owns several influential literary magazines such as "Infinity" and "New France". It has been cheering for Lin Chaoyang a lot in the past. It should be said that it provided some help for Lin Chaoyang to win the Renaudeau Literary Award.

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Even the "Paris Review" that Ethan Rogers just mentioned has a very good relationship with Gallimard Publishing House. Although the "Paris Review" is called "Paris", it was founded by a group of Americans.

After World War II, the "Beat Generation" was born in the United States.

These young people have a rough and unruly personality, and they live a simple and unkempt life. They like to wear fancy clothes and dislike work and study.

They refuse to assume any social obligations, enjoy wandering around the world, oppose all secular conventions and the rule of monopoly capital, and resist foreign aggression and apartheid.

Among them are a group of young people from well-off families. They are all children of wealthy families who graduated from prestigious schools such as Harvard and Yale. They have high literary literacy and artistic pursuits. The rise of the Cold War led to the dominance of McKinseyism in American society, making this group of people and

American social reality has become out of place.

So this group of people got together, came to Paris, and founded the Paris Review.

In the early days of its establishment, the operation of "The Paris Review" was very difficult. They had no money to rent an office and had to borrow two empty rooms of Gallimard Publishing House. Therefore, Gallimard Publishing House also formed a deep relationship with "The Paris Review"

friendship.

Even though the editorial department of The Paris Review moved back to the United States as early as the 1970s, the two sides have always maintained close contacts.

Lin Chaoyang was not well-known in the European and American literary circles. Now with the blessing of the Renaudot Literary Award, the last "Paris Review" is not a problem. However, Ethan Rogers had to use a little favor. After all, it was a temporary idea.

This move requires the cooperation of the Paris Review.

Ethan Rogers used this to repay Lin Chaoyang for his firm choice of Gallimard Publishing House, which can be regarded as sincere.

Being included in the "Writer Interview" of "The Paris Review" is also a recognition of Lin Chaoyang's influence in the international literary world. After spending a whole morning at Gallimard Publishing House, Lin Chaoyang returned to the hotel after lunch to accept the "Literature Interview"

Magazine. The next day, the person who came to pick up Lin Chaoyang was Secretary Zhou who was waiting for the embassy.

This morning, the embassy arranged an exchange event for him at the Normal School in Paris, and in the afternoon there was a separate exchange with Chinese students in Paris.

In the evening, Zou Daishi held a celebration dinner for Lin Chaoyang at the embassy.

Lin Chaoyang then visited Paris for another two days. During this period, many publishing houses from other European countries found him, and Lin Chaoyang signed several publishing contracts.

In his spare time, he also participated in a writers' gathering organized by Gallimard Publishing House. Having just won the Renaudeau Literature Prize, he naturally became the focus of the gathering, attracting a lot of attention and discussion, and also got to know some French writers.

Local writers.

On the sixth day after arriving in Paris, Lin Chaoyang waited for Plimpton, the editor of the Paris Review.

Princeton is the veteran of "The Paris Review" and the first editor of the "Writer Interviews" column. Over the years, he has interviewed hundreds of internationally renowned writers.

When Princeton met Lin Chaoyang, his first reaction was "young".

"I would like to take the liberty of asking you how old you are.

"I was born in 1958."

Princeton looked amazed, "You are probably the youngest among the many writers I have interviewed."

"Is this a compliment?" Lin Chaoyang asked jokingly.

"Of course!" Princeton looked serious, "Youth is a rare capital."

Princeton has a lot of experience in conducting interviews, and it was easy for him and Lin Chaoyang to find the topic. Then the topic gradually progressed from the shallower to the deeper, and gradually transitioned from daily life to literary creation and ideological level.

In the middle of the interview, Princeton pulled out an English version of "The Truman Show."

"I have seen the movie adaptation of your novel, and it was very well done.

The English version of the novel was only published in the past few days. I bought it before getting on the plane and haven't finished reading it yet, but I boldly believe that this is indeed an outstanding work. Where did the inspiration for this novel come from?

Are you dissatisfied with the political system? Or is it a satire on social phenomena?"

"It was just a flash of inspiration while watching TV. In fact, there is nothing special about this kind of inspiration. Maybe everyone will have that flash of thought, but I just caught it."

Princeton asked again: "I have interviewed many writers, and in many people's words, literature is a very sacred and solemn thing. But through talking with you, it seems that such 'sacred' does not exist in your concept."

"That's right." Lin Chaoyang answered bluntly.

"So, what do you think literature means to you?"

When asking this question, Princeton looked a little solemn.

Lin Chaoyang's eyes also became serious, "Literature? It's probably a kind of sustenance."

"Sustenance?"

"Whatever the heart thinks, what God thinks, our spirit must have an outlet, but it is not that important."

"Why? Why isn't it important?"

Princeton frowned, he did not agree with Lin Chaoyang's point of view.

Among the writers he has interviewed, the vast majority have made remarks such as "literature is supreme" or "literature is higher than my life." Princeton also took it for granted that literature should be so noble.

"Will people die if they don't eat?" Lin Chaoyang did not answer his question, but asked another question. "Yes."

"meeting."

“Will a person die if he doesn’t breathe?”

“Will people die without literature?”

Princeton was silent.

After a moment, he retorted: "But our souls will wither."

"Soul? A noble term. If the soul can wither, then it is not nobler than our body."

Lin Chaoyang made Princeton speechless with his rigorous logic, but after thinking about it he still said unwillingly: "Don't you think you are dispelling the sublimity of literature?

"Is man noble?"

Princeton hesitated, sensing the trap in Lin Chaoyang's words.

Before he could speak, Lin Chaoyang said: "It is impossible for a person to pull out his own hair and leave the earth, just as it is impossible for a person to create something nobler than himself." Lin Chaoyang's eyes seemed to have traveled through time and space, and his tone was low, "We are not

Without sublimity, we just exist and we will eventually perish.”

After hearing these words, Princeton's eyes instantly focused, as if attracted by an invisible light. His brows furrowed slightly, forming a shallow ravine, and he fell into deep contemplation.

After a moment, he raised his eyes and looked at Lin Chaoyang.

The young Chinese writer just sat there quietly, as if even his breathing was extremely subtle. His eyes were calm and soft, like a deep ocean, making people have the urge to indulge in it.

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Princeton was trying his best to digest the touch and shock of what he just said, and he shook his head unconsciously.

He was not opposing Lin Chaoyang, but trying to find a point of agreement from Lin Chaoyang's words and integrate this new understanding of life into his existing cognitive system. "What an interesting point of view, impressive." Princeton

His voice was a little dry, and he added: "It seems that you are a pessimist."

Lin Chaoyang laughed easily.

"Some jokers once summarized the characteristics of literature in various countries. Do you want to hear it?" "I would like to hear the details."

"British literature is like a heroic charging knight, he said, I will die for glory. American literature is like a brave gladiator who is not afraid of death, he said I will die free. French literature is like a prodigal son crazy about love, he said

I died for love. Russian literature is like an old man who sees through life. He said that I will die.

Japanese literature is like a pretentious literary youth, he says I want to die. Chinese literature has nothing to say, he says live!"

Lin Chaoyang's tone is humorous, which makes people laugh.

Although he knew that Lin Chaoyang's summary was a joke, Princeton also quite recognized this summary. Just when he was smiling and looking relaxed, Lin Chaoyang looked at him and said seriously:

"Living requires more courage than dying."

At that moment, Princeton's body shook violently, as if he had been struck by an electric current.

He gently rubbed his fingers, and a complex emotion instantly surged in his eyes, including shock, surprise, and an indescribable touch.

He couldn't help but cast his eyes on Lin Chaoyang again. This young Chinese writer in front of him could always shock people's soul inadvertently. Princeton said sincerely: "Lin, you are the best person I have ever met in my interviewing career."

Special writer!"

Lin Chaoyang smiled mischievously, "This sentence should be a compliment."

Princeton also showed a knowing smile, his eyes filled with admiration and even admiration.

More than a month later, when the latest season of "The Paris Review" was released in the United States, people saw Princeton commenting on Lin Chaoyang like this:

The most eye-catching thing about him is his young face, but when you start to communicate with him, you will be deeply moved by the wisdom hidden behind this young face. His words are like gurgling water, soft and powerful, every time

Every word contains profound philosophy.

Perhaps he himself did not realize that although he did not think literature was such a noble thing, in him I saw the most dazzling light of literature.
Chapter completed!