The Charm of a Person: Reading Writers from Beyond Our Region

Author: Zhang Wei / Country:
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: Saul Bellow's books have been published frequently in China. My favorites include The Humboldt Gift and Hersog. I have always found it strange that contemporary authors rarely discuss this remarkable writer. I have hardly read a more humorous and witty writer than him—he uses all this to mask the deep sorrow and compassion in his heart. His immense talent in this regard makes other satirical writers who depict contemporary life seem pale in comparison. He makes one think that other writers in this field are lightweight. The intricate and hidden aspects of human nature are no exception to his keen eye. It is a once-in-a-million eye—its penetration, perspective, and the nature of its gaze are all outstanding. His works give a sense of richness and magnificence. This is not merely a matter of form; it is the impression and association his works evoke. His mind often reaches the most remote corners, leaving one in awe. His best books are meticulous, dense, and expansive, almost capable of being reread countless times without losing their appeal. More Die of Heartbreak is his most recent book, and it seems to maintain his usual wit and intelligence. However, upon closer reading, one can faintly sense a decline in vitality, as it lacks the immense vigor of his prime. Bellow's works, due to their tendency to linger on sorrow and bleak satire, lack a certain steadfastness, which slightly diminishes a sense of "greatness."
Saul Bellow, American Writer
Born on June 10, 1915, in the town of Lachine, Quebec, Canada, to a family of merchants. His parents were Russian Jews. In 1924, the family moved to Chicago, USA. In 1937, he obtained a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Northwestern University. Married for the first time. In 1944, he enlisted in the army as a reservist. Published his first novel, The Man Who Wasn’t There. In 1946, he joined the English department at the University of Minnesota as a teacher. In 1947, he published his first novel, The Victim. In 1952, he became a researcher at the creative center of Princeton University in New Jersey. In 1953, he published his novel, The Adventures of Augie March, which brought him sudden fame. In 1956, he married for the second time. In 1959, he published his novel, Henderson the Rain King. In 1961, he married for the third time. In 1962, he received a doctorate in literature from Northwestern University and was appointed as a professor at the University of Chicago. In 1964, his novel, Hersog, was published. In 1965, he won the International Literary Prize from France. In 1968, he was awarded the Knight of Arts and Letters by the French government. In 1970, he published his novel, Mr. Sammler’s Planet. In 1975, his novel, The Humboldt Gift, was published. In 1976, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature and the Pulitzer Prize. In 1982, he published his novel, The Dean’s December. In 1987, he published his novel, More Die of Heartbreak.
Arthur Rimbaud
He makes one think of a miracle. The maturity of genius and art always requires at least some time and process to unfold. Yet Rimbaud seems to have skipped all of it. Reading his poems from his teens, one is struck by a profound sense of mystery about genius. Distantly sensing that extraordinary soul, perhaps one that appears only once in centuries, and imagining the mysteries and beauty of life—the boundless creative capacity of humans—one cannot help but be deeply moved. His works are few, and only a part of them have been translated. How do we appreciate this precocious poet? Verlaine once described this remarkable young man thus: “This man was tall and athletic, almost like an athlete in his agility, with a face like an exiled angel, perfectly oval, and wild chestnut hair. His eyes belonged to the unsettling pale blue variety.” Like many true geniuses, his indescribable vitality made him restless and agitated, running about the earth, tormenting himself without hesitation. He tried many professions—business, military service, and died young. I particularly fail to understand how a poet could engage in business, for I fear today’s merchants.
Arthur Rimbaud, French Poet
Born in 1854 in the industrial town of Charleville, France. Due to his parents’ discord, he was melancholic from a young age. In 1870, he began his travels and visited Paris multiple times, as well as Belgium, Germany, and England. He befriended the poet Verlaine and had a close relationship with him. In 1871, he sympathized with the Paris Commune and published poems such as The Battle Hymn of Paris and Parisians Are Increasing. He had a conflict with Verlaine in Belgium and was injured by him with a gun. In 1873, he published A Season in Hell. In 1876, he joined the Dutch colonial army and served in Java. In 1881, he went to the port of Aden to do business. Later, he participated in the trade of arms in Abyssinia. In 1891, he died in Marseille. About 140 of his poems survive, mostly written between the ages of 16 and 19.
Franz Kafka
His works are not numerous. Yet, in literary history, it is rare to find a writer as complete and concise as him. His indispensable contribution to modernism has led many to classify him as a master—a classification that would surely leave stubborn Eastern writers bewildered. For us, “master” is a towering concept with relatively fixed standards and connotations. In Kafka’s case, whether he is a master is no longer as important, for he has completely disregarded the traditions of the masters from the very beginning. This is truly a rare kind of insight—so novel and yet so simple—because often, the novel is not as simple, and so, at times, those unique qualities are somewhat diminished. Yet Kafka could truly live within his imagination, which both stirred him and guided him. From his imagination, he drew and absorbed a health that is unparalleled in the real world. His imagination began with the famous large insect (The Metamorphosis), a subject discussed by millions. The result of that imagination was so vivid that even the uncritical mass readers could talk endlessly about it. In my opinion, what truly represents his unique thinking is not necessarily that work or that genre. For example, his other writings, his long stories, or the famous long letter he wrote to his father, are far more important. Everything about Kafka is primarily about content, not form. Those who approach him from a formal perspective can only grasp the superficial. He is an immortal, special soul that forever admonishes and enlightens humanity.
Franz Kafka, Austrian Writer
Born on July 3, 1883, in Prague to a Jewish family. His father was a department store merchant. In 1901, he entered Charles University in Prague to study literature but later switched to law. He met Max Brod and began writing under his influence. In 1906, he obtained a law degree. In 1907, he began literary and joined an Italian private insurance company in Prague. Between 1912 and 1914, he completed the short stories The Metamorphosis and The Judgment. He wrote the unfinished novel The American. In late May 1914, he engaged to Felice Bauer in Berlin but broke it off in July. In July 1917, he engaged to Felice Bauer for the second time but broke it off in December. Between 1914 and 1918, he wrote the unfinished novel The Trial. In 1918, he met Julie Wohryzek. In 1919, he engaged to Julie in Prague. In 1920, he met the Czech writer Milena Jesenska and soon divorced Julie. In 1922, he wrote the unfinished novel The Castle. In May 1922, he met Milena for the last time. By late July 1923, he resigned from his job due to illness and retired. In 1923, he moved to Berlin. He wrote the short story The Cave. In 1924, he died in the Kierling sanatorium near Vienna. Before his death, he requested his friend Brod to burn all his works “without exception.” Between 1950 and 1958, Brod edited and published The Complete Works of Franz Kafka, totaling nine volumes. It includes all of Kafka’s works, including letters and diaries.