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Author: Anhui Literature and Art Publishing House
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-10-01
Features: Fu Lei's own translations have been praised for their fluency, rich vocabulary, and vivid expression. Undoubtedly, the fifteen-volume Selected Translations of Fu Lei is a testament to his life's work. In terms of his creative career, it spanned twenty-seven years; in terms of the publication of his translations, it lasted forty-six years. During this long period, Fu Lei's translations evolved from initial awkwardness to later maturity, undergoing transformation and refinement, ultimately forming what is now known as the "Fu-style translation." The hardcover boxed set published by Anhui Literature and Art is a collectible edition.
The Conqueror is one of the famous novels that have influenced generations worldwide and in China. It is a long novel that advocates humanism and heroism and is the masterpiece of Nobel Prize laureate Roman Rolland. It is not just a novel but a great epic of humanity, depicting not the hardships faced by humans in material terms but the struggles in their spiritual lives, not the conquest of the external world but the triumph over the world. It is a mirror of countless souls and an adventure story of heroes and sages throughout history, much like a grand symphony by Beethoven. It will forever influence future generations and inspire those to come.
The Three Lives of the Giants by Roman Rolland is a biography of giants in music, art, and literature—Beethoven: The Life of a Great Musician, Michelangelo: The Life of a Great Artist, and Tolstoy: The Life of a Great Writer. It is one of the most profound biographies of famous figures.
The Philosophy of Art by Hippolyte Taine not only offers a scientific perspective on aesthetics but also serves as a general introduction to the history of art. It does not adopt the form of a typical textbook but instead uses profound and erudite insights to point out the main trends in the development of art. Reading it is both fascinating and enlightening, offering new inspiration.
Frustration centers on the stories of two talented and ambitious young men whose ideals are shattered. Through the experiences of these two young men, the author unfolds the broad social landscape of France during the Bourbon Restoration. This novel nearly encapsulates the author's own major life experiences and deepest thoughts and feelings. Balzac himself claimed that Frustration was "the work that stands at the forefront of my writings."
Old Goriot has been called the modern King Lear by critics. The characters in Balzac's works are not just individuals but symbols of their era, and the tragic elements are not limited to personal temperament but are particularly rooted in the decadent and corrupt social environment. The struggle of the ambitious for fame and profit, intertwined with the desperate paternal love of Old Goriot, makes the novel even more bizarre and captivating. This is one of the most serious and brilliant translations by Mr. Fu Lei.
Eugenie Grandet features the typical miser, Grandet, who symbolizes the modern God of Wealth—a powerful yet ruthless. To make a fortune, he exploits others; to save a little money, he is stingy with his family. The shackles of gold and the misfortune of love lead to the dual tragedy of Eugenie Grandet. In Balzac's novels, this is a structurally classical work, with concise and refined prose, elegant and natural, almost a simple epic.
Uncle Bonaparte is a musician, an honest and noble self-made man who loves painting. To seize the legacy of the poor Bonaparte, some hypocritical figures like the royal prosecutor Camusso resort to all means to harm him, determined to achieve their goal at any cost. For Bonaparte, collecting famous paintings is an noble hobby; for his wealthy relatives, they are merely a means to get rich.
The Rise and Fall of Chезар Pirod tells the story of an ordinary pollen merchant who, driven by a ridiculous ambition, falls from a peak of prosperity to become a penniless beggar. On the stage of The Human Comedy, Pirod has become one of the most enduring and timeless characters. The work is not only a historically significant commercial novel but also a highly humorous portrayal of bourgeois life.
The Water-Spouter revolves around the ruthless and evil Philip, surrounded by the lifeless existence of the scrooge Rousset, the shameless drama of the water-spouter, the treacherous tactics of Marcus, and the desperate struggles of the retired soldier. The diverse characters and scenes make this novel one of Balzac's masterpieces with the most complex plot and richest colors. Some say that as long as French novels exist, people will continue to discuss and study this novel.
The Colonel Chabert includes three tragic short stories centered on marital relationships: The Colonel Chabert, Ononina, and The Guardian. Each short story, like all of the author's works, presents a stark contrast between good and evil, right and wrong, beauty and ugliness. The virtuous and the wicked are intertwined, leaving readers with a sense of both laughter and sorrow. It is precisely because of this that we appreciate the profound significance of The Human Comedy.
Mme. Bovary is both a moral history of the Louis Philippe era and a vivid tragedy. The characters in the book represent extreme devotion. The author gathers many typical figures together, intertwining their activities, intense passions, the contrast between good and evil, and the interplay of light and darkness to create a dazzling and shocking mural.
Camilla includes two novels, both of which have long become world literary classics, especially the tragic and violent Camilla. The author writes in a simple, concise, objective, and detached style, without a single note or hint of personal emotion. The style is refined, and the content is subtle. Goronga tells the story of the islanders of Goronga practicing the "blood debt" custom of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," with a love story woven in. The light and lively, humorous tone contrasts with the original mood and brutality of the story.
Candide includes three classic novels by the great 18th-century French writer Voltaire (now translated as Voltaire): Candide, The Innocent, and Zadig, as well as The Life of Voltaire by Moréas. Candide is the love story of an innocent and naive young man. The Innocent is about a French youth raised among the uncivilized tribes of Canada. Zadig follows the philosophy of preserving oneself through prudence, yet misfortune always befalls him. All three novels use a humorous tone to satirize reality and elucidate philosophy through legendary stories, representing Mr. Fu Lei's most mature translations.
Loves and Sacrifices collects two works by the famous French biographer and novelist Moréas (now Moréas), which are among Mr. Fu Lei's early translations. They aim to enhance moral cultivation and improve the quality of the nation, "to instill some hope in those who have fallen into decadence and to add a little courage to the heroes of the struggle." They are rare works of moral cultivation for today. Includes Loves and Sacrifices and The Five Great Questions of Life.
Civilization is written by a novelist who knows that reality is never simple. Not only is there greatness in decline, but there is also comedy in tragedy. Bitter satire, passionate protest, and sorrowful cries cannot suppress a humorous smile. The foolishness, eccentricity, and vanity of people, as well as the whims of fate, are exposed by his sharp and biting wit, turning those bleak years and heroic scenes into a comical dance, as if a dance of ghosts. The book also includes the biography The Life of Charlotte and the essay The Way to Happiness.