Giant Three Legends

Author: Roman Rolland
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: "The Life of Beethoven," "The Life of Michelangelo," and "The Life of Tolstoy" were all written by Roman Rolland. The three subjects of the biographies—Beethoven, a musician; Michelangelo, a sculptor and painter; and Tolstoy, a novelist—each had their own domain. All three biographies focus on great geniuses who, on the arduous path of life's hardships and tribulations, dedicated their lives to seeking truth and justice, and to creating immortal works that express truth, goodness, and beauty. They were either tormented by illness, or faced tragic circumstances, or were plagued by inner confusion and contradiction, or suffered from all three, to the point where their deep suffering almost suffocated them and destroyed their reason. Yet they persevered through their difficult journeys, relying entirely on their love for humanity and their faith in humanity. The music that Beethoven shared with the world was "joy bought with suffering." The immortal masterpieces left by Michelangelo for posterity were the culmination of his life's blood and tears. Tolstoy, in his novels, described the greatness and smallness of countless beings, their suffering, and the harmony found amidst their pain, thereby sowing the seeds of love. This book is Roman Rolland's biography of the musician Beethoven, the sculptor and painter Michelangelo, and the novelist Tolstoy. Life is hard for those who refuse to be ordinary—it is a relentless war without rest. Often, it is a tragic, unadorned, and unhappy struggle, carried out in solitude and silence. Therefore, oh unhappy ones, do not complain too much—among humanity, the finest are with you. Draw strength from their courage to nourish ourselves, and if we grow weary, let our heads rest briefly on their knees. They will comfort us. Within these sacred souls, there is a clear force and a strong love, like a rushing stream, surging forth to support and warm us in our struggle against fate. Written by the novelist Tolstoy, these three biographies all focus on great geniuses who, on the arduous path of life's hardships and tribulations, dedicated their lives to seeking truth and justice, and to creating immortal works that express truth, goodness, and beauty. They were either tormented by illness, or faced tragic circumstances, or were plagued by inner confusion and contradiction, or suffered from all three, to the point where their deep suffering almost suffocated them and destroyed their reason. Yet they persevered through their difficult journeys, relying entirely on their love for humanity and their faith in humanity. The elegant and fluent translation style of the renowned French translator, Mr., makes this book even more powerful and moving to read.