Celebrated Translations -- The Last Lesson

Author: (French) Alphonse Daudet, translated by Li Yumin, Yuan Junsheng, et al
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Daudet is one of the great masters of modern French literature... This story (The Last Lesson) is written in the tone of a primary school student in the Artois province, depicting the tragedy of territorial cession to incite the patriotic spirit of the French... This is a masterpiece of the short story. Hu Shi admired Daudet's calm and natural style, which he found particularly charming. His style, rich in emotion and wit yet subtle and gentle, is deeply captivating. After being exposed to loud, aggressive noises, it feels like an oasis that brings spiritual tranquility. Liu Mingjiu describes Daudet's style as that of a skilled storyteller—light, flexible, and fluid. Sometimes, a gesture or a smile from the narrator is enough to bring the story to life. (The Last Lesson by (French) Anatole France) is a collection of three of Daudet's most important works in the second half of the 19th century, a French Realist writer. It includes the short story collection Monday Tales, the prose collection Letters from a Miller, and the novel Frédéric Mistral and Germaine de Saint-Germain. With exquisite brushwork and clever composition, the works showcase the sincerity, integrity, kindness, and resilience of the people living in the underprivileged layers of French society. They depict the picturesque landscapes of Southern France, reflect the profound patriotic sentiments of the French people, and embody the author's ultimate humanistic concern and masterful artistic craftsmanship.