Mill Paper

Author: (French) Alphonse Daudet
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Although Alphonse Daudet is revered as the pioneer of Southern French literature for depicting the bright sunshine of Provence, the Provence revealed in this renowned collection of essays, Letters from the Mill, is far removed from the idyllic vacation destination we imagine—where the sky is clear, the earth is scorching, and the atmosphere is rich in charm. In Daudet's portrayal, the natural beauty here is like paradise, yet the people living on earth are no happier than those elsewhere. Scanning through Letters from the Mill, one seems to find no favorite child of God; joys, sorrows, life, death, love, and hatred—all the various sorrows of life are laid out beneath the sun and green trees. Beyond pioneering Southern French literature, Letters from the Mill is simple, straightforward, and unpretentious. Upon close reading, one cannot find any extraordinary brilliance or striking masterpieces. Yet, literature that endures through the ages must have its reasons. Mr. Liu Mingjiu, the translator of the Chinese edition, believes that the charm of Daudet lies in his "gentle and tender gaze toward characters—his satire is mild, his irony is not sharp, and he is somewhat detached from the secular norms and standards of right and wrong in life."
The "Foreign Classics" series recommends a collection of exquisite foreign cultural books to readers. The works selected from various countries are the essence of the humanities, many of which are representative works of their authors. They are easy to read and recite, covering a wide range of topics and genres—literature, history, philosophy, religion, society, ethics, as well as essays, prose, travelogues, autobiographies, novels, and treatises. A small book can condense the wisdom of humanity. In a relaxed reading, we connect with the world.