The Complete Works of Fu Lei: Correspondence Volume

Author: Fu Lei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Fu Lei is renowned as a translator, excelling in conveying the essence, fluency, and elegance of the original texts. His translations have gained widespread acclaim, establishing him as a distinct and outstanding figure. All his translations are world-class masterpieces, meticulously selected, and have had a profound impact. With profound erudition, Fu Lei possessed exceptional expertise in the theory and appreciation of art and music, yet his scholarly achievements were often overshadowed by his fame as a translator. What is particularly remarkable is his integrity and moral uprightness, his unyielding principles, his meticulousness, embodying the traditional virtues of Chinese intellectuals while embracing modern spirit—making him a model for all. His tragic demise during the Cultural Revolution earned him universal respect. The Letters from Fu Lei became an instant bestseller, celebrated and widely read, not only for the warmth of family affection but also for its profound reflection on the essence of life, social dignity, patriotic passion, and the rigorous standards for artists to possess both "artistic skill and noble character." The correspondence section includes not only the family letters exchanged between Fu Lei and his children, Fu Cong and Fu Min, but also his public and private letters to friends both within and outside China, all of which are extremely valuable. Additionally, Fu Lei's self-authored biography provides a detailed account of his family background, academic journey, literary career, and social activities. The Complete Works of Fu Lei not only allows readers to understand the full person of Fu Lei but also serves as a lens to comprehend the harmony and discord between his inner and outer worlds, as well as the cultural and historical value of his legacy, which cannot be underestimated. It is the most comprehensive collection of family letters to date and a classic model for contemporary quality education. The Letters from Fu Lei became an instant bestseller, celebrated and widely read, not only for the warmth of family affection but also for its profound reflection on the essence of life, social dignity, patriotic passion, and the rigorous standards for artists to possess both "artistic skill and noble character." The correspondence section includes not only the family letters exchanged between Fu Lei and his children, Fu Cong and Fu Min, but also his public and private letters to friends both within and outside China, all of which are extremely valuable. Additionally, Fu Lei's self-authored biography provides a detailed account of his family background, academic journey, literary career, and social activities. The Complete Works of Fu Lei not only allows readers to understand the full person of Fu Lei but also serves as a lens to comprehend the harmony and discord between his inner and outer worlds, as well as the cultural and historical value of his legacy, which cannot be underestimated.
January 18th, 1954 [55th Letter] Evening / January 19th, 1954 Fu Cong: As soon as the train started moving, everyone turned into tearful figures, standing stiffly on the platform. Only after the long train had completely left the station did we turn back. On January 17th, 1954, the whole family saw Fu Cong off at Shanghai Railway Station to prepare for his departure to Beijing for overseas studies. —Editor’s Note When leaving the station, Professor Shen Bo, our renowned composer, who was later persecuted and died during the Cultural Revolution, tried to comfort us. But on the rickshaw ride home, everyone couldn’t help but burst into tears. Min kept sobbing uncontrollably. Last night, we didn’t sleep well, waking up frequently. Today, during my nap, I just closed my eyes and was startled awake again. The feeling on the platform last night, something I hadn’t experienced in years, made my chest ache and my stomach feel queasy—just like when I used to be heartbroken. Today, I feel as if I’ve just recovered from a serious illness, with no energy at all. Mom couldn’t stop crying—her eyes were already swollen beyond recognition, burning and aching, yet she couldn’t help but weep. She just said, “You’ve been smiling all day,” and then broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Really, child, you’ve been smiling all day, making it impossible for me to bear parting! I keep thinking about the events of January 1953. In January 1953, there was a heated debate between Fu Cong and his father over which of Beethoven’s violin sonatas was most important. Fu Cong, based on his musical intuition, disagreed with his father’s view that the ninth sonata, the Kreutzer Sonata, was the most significant, believing the tenth violin sonata was more important. The two couldn’t reach a consensus. His father thought Fu Cong was arrogant, asking, “How many books have you even read?” At the time, the international music world generally agreed that the ninth sonata was the most important, so his father insisted on his opinion, leading to a serious conflict. In his rage, the stubborn Fu Cong left home and stayed with his father’s friend Mao Chu’en’s acquaintance, Chen Bokang, for nearly a month. Later, when his mother’s brother passed away, Fu Lei realized how fleeting life is and how pointless their conflict was, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. He then sent Fu Min to bring Fu Cong home, and the two finally reconciled. —Editor’s Note, I can’t shake the guilt in my conscience. I have wronged you, child, and I will always regret it. I can never make amends for this sin! These thoughts have occupied my mind all day, but I didn’t dare tell Mom. When life makes a mistake, the conscience can never be at peace! Really, Balzac said it well: Some sins can only be atoned for, not erased!
Evening of January 18th Last night, as soon as I lay down in bed, I relived your childhood all over again. Poor child, how could your childhood be so similar to mine? I also know that the setbacks you faced in childhood were not entirely without help in your current achievements; but as your father, I have made many grave mistakes. I ask myself that in my life, I have never done anything wrong to my friends or society, but at home, I have failed you and your mother in ways that weigh heavily on my conscience. —Editor’s Note Father was extremely strict with his children, sometimes to the point of being inhumane, which often caused my mother great emotional distress. —Editor’s Note These are thoughts I’ve often had in the past year, but lately, they have been particularly on my mind, like a nightmare.