登陆注册
4700100000014

第14章

"My ideas are changing so fast that before long my whole method will change! In a short time the difference between the me of today and the me of tomorrow will be the difference between a youth of twenty and a man of thirty. I think and think, and my ideas are ripening; I realise that nature has treated me kindly in giving me the heart and brain that I have. Believe in me, dear sister, for I have need of some one who believes, though I have not given up the hope of being somebody one of these days. I realise now that Cromwell did not even have the merit of being an embryo; and as to my novels, they are not worth a damn; and, what is more, they are no incentive to do better."This letter was dated from Villeparisis, on a certain Tuesday evening, in the year 1822; Honore de Balzac was twenty-three years old; he read his destiny clearly, but he was fated to achieve it only after surmounting the hardest obstacles, by "the sweat of toil," to borrow his own vigorous phrase. While waiting for that desired epoch, when he would be able to be himself and nothing else, he was forced to continue to turn the millstone that ground out the worthless grain. In 1823, his productive power seems to have fallen off, either because he had exhausted the patience of his publishers, or for some other reason.

During that year he published nothing excepting The Last Fairy or the New Wonderful Lamp, brought out by Barba.

After the hopes begotten in 1822 and his amazing effort of rapid production, Balzac once more encountered his old difficulty of placing his stories, and for nearly three years he waged a fruitless fight. In order to disarm his mother and give proof of his good will, he gave lessons to his brother Henri and to young de Berny, the son of a neighbouring family in Villeparisis; he exhausted himself in efforts that for the most part were in vain. Nothing, however, broke down his courage. He succeeded in 1824 in publishing through Buissot Annette and the Criminal, in four volumes, which was a continuation of The Vicar of the Ardennes, and was confiscated by the police, and then through Delongchamps an Impartial History of the Jesuits. Finally Urbain Canel bought his Wann-Chlore in 1825, and that was the last of the novels of his youth.

It is interesting to ask, how much headway Honore de Balzac had made since the days of his vast enthusiasm over Cromwell, in his garret in the Rue Lesdiguieres. Had he drawn any nearer to fame, that "pretty woman whom he did not know," and whose kisses he so eagerly desired during his long nights of labour and of dreams? He has descended into the literary arena with valiant heart, as a soldier willing to serve in the ranks, yet cherishing the legitimate hope of earning promotion. He had not shrunk from the humblest tasks, and yet, after three years of struggle, he found himself back at the starting point. His novels had brought him neither fame nor fortune, and he had not even acquired the leisure that was necessary to him before he could achieve those works which seethed and teemed within his brain, filling it with the nebulous and confused elements of an unborn world. What was he to do?

Honore de Balzac refused to admit defeat, and, with a promptness of decision which belongs rather to men of action than to the contemplative type, he turned his attention to business and commercial enterprises. He had none of the prejudices of men of letters, who refuse to recognise that there are any employments worthy of their faculties outside of literature. Little he cared as to the means, provided he could lay the foundation of his fortunes, and assure his independence. Novels had not brought him material emancipation. Very well then! he would abandon them without regret. Nevertheless, he would preserve the memory of them, and recognise that they had been useful as a literary exercise. In fact, he said to Champfleury, in 1848, "I wrote seven novels, simply as a training. One to break myself in to dialogue;one to learn how to write description; one to learn how to group my characters; one as a study in composition, etc." Although Balzac never publicly acknowledged these works of his youth, they had their share in his intellectual development; and, because of this claim, they should not be wholly set aside from the rest of his gigantic work. In any case, they are by no means destitute of merit.

Relinquishing his career as man of letters, from which he could not make a living, Honore de Balzac flung himself into business with the same activity that he had applied to the production of novels. As early as 1822, he had entertained various business schemes, and he would have accepted the appointment of deputy supervisor of the construction work on the Saint-Martin canal, under his brother-in-law, Surville, if he had been able to give the required security. But he had at his command only five hundred francs, which was an inadequate sum. The attraction of business, which was one of the characteristics of his temperament, enticed him into the most chimerical adventures, although the first business connection which he formed, and which was in the nature of publishing and bookselling, resulted in giving him the financial start which he so ardently desired.

同类推荐
  • 观心食法

    观心食法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唱论

    唱论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 五岳真形序论

    五岳真形序论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闽海赠言

    闽海赠言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中天竺舍卫国祇洹寺图经

    中天竺舍卫国祇洹寺图经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 婆媳一家欢

    婆媳一家欢

    简介:三个女人一台戏,如果再加一个呢,或者再加一个呢?婆婆媳妇小姑,再加妯娌,各有各的脾气,各有各的心眼,各有各的打算!八仙过海,各显神通,婆媳斗,姑嫂斗,妯娌斗,斗斗斗,斗个不停……老婆吵,老妈吵,丈母娘吵,吵吵闹闹……没有硝烟的战争,往往更惊心动魄,因为,它就在你身边……********推荐凌子的两本书:婆媳系列的《我的极品婆婆》,已经出版。另一本《引狼入室》,已经完结!有婆媳八卦群57613850,大家乱入乱入……
  • 烟火

    烟火

    丑女孩像一杯茶。坐在寂寞的小小庭院,手边的那杯茶和她的心情一样澄澈。而时间在春来秋去,而世事在云卷云舒……人们常说,烟、酒、茶是男人的三宝。如果把烟比做才女,把酒比做美女,那么,茶就是清馨的丑女了。在茶的情操面前,无论是烟的醇香,还是酒的浓烈,都显得那么恶俗。只可惜世人大多喜欢追求香烟美酒的刺激,却无暇品尝一杯清茶的真味。是的,丑女孩没有媚俗的容颜,可她的人品就像茶一样清丽。远离了尘世的喧嚣,因而能够永葆心灵的纯洁,也更能够理解人生的个中雅趣。无论是工作或者帮助他人,她把手头上的每件事都干得非常漂亮。她是如此善良、乐于奉献、不图回报、与世无争,就像茶一样默默地散发着一缕若有若无的芳香。
  • 时空幻想波

    时空幻想波

    随便写,想到哪里写哪里,没有方向没有目的,主角性格偏向黑暗,行事风格幕后,绝对不会和别人拼命,真小人也
  • 富脑袋穷脑袋

    富脑袋穷脑袋

    思路决定出路,思路带来财富。贫穷是一种思想障碍,而不是一种经济状况。富人的一项资产就是其与众不同的思考方式。如果你想变富有,你就需要独立地进行思考而不是盲从他人。穷人之所以一辈子穷,就是因为他从来没有想过或者不敢成为富人!富人致富靠的不是运气,不是关系,而是他们与众不同的逻辑思维方式,像有钱人那样去思考,去做事,去行动,你也可以成为有钱人!
  • 冷少的小小宝贝妻

    冷少的小小宝贝妻

    他找到她时,她正骑在牛背上哼着小曲儿,望着蓝天,纯美的好像个小天使。就是这个画面,竟让他端详了许久。他无语的凝望,自己不是最不喜欢小孩子了吗?怎么今天竟会觉得这个村里长大的女娃娃这样好看?出于一种怎样的心理,他自己也说不清楚,将她带回去的念头竟这样的强烈!他自我开脱的想:或许他就是想看看若干年之后,知道真相的那个老男人会是个什么表情?嗯,肯定是的!片段一:某男正睡得香,突然浑身一阵刺骨的寒凉顺着他的毛孔瞬间刺激到他全身的神经,他嗖的坐起身子。一个粉雕玉琢头发凌乱的小丫头正手提空空的小水桶笑嘻嘻的看着他奶声奶气的软绵绵的说道,“小爹,起床!你今天要赶飞机!”某男震怒,甩了甩头上的水珠儿,抡起枕头砸向她,小丫头手脚灵活的成功躲开攻击。紧接着,某男大叫一声恶狠狠的质问,“我有说过要你叫我起床了吗?我自己上了闹钟!”小丫头眨眨眼,摆弄着手指无比无辜的讲道,“你的闹钟我昨天晚上不小心灌进了水,不会响了,我已经帮你扔掉了。”“你…”某男无语…他怎么就忘了,凡是别的女人送他的东西,这丫头全部都会弄坏!片段二:十七岁的小丫头褪去了稚嫩的身躯变得玲珑俏丽,一天,她从学校回来兴冲冲的对沙发上的男人叫道,“小爹!今天又有男生对我表白了!”某男的视线从手中的报纸上抬起,胸腔中的郁闷一触即发,他站起身闷声的说,“每天不都有?”“嗯,这次不一样!以前那些是喜欢我,我却不喜欢的!今天这个他喜欢我,我也喜欢他!”她上前一步握住他的手仰起脸笑的天真无邪。某男彻底黑了脸,咬着牙齿瞪着眼睛恨声说道,“不准早恋!否则打折你的腿!”…谁能相信,这事业成功又骄傲俊美的男人却可以雷厉风行,可以对任何事情漠视,却异常的宠溺这个村里捡回来的宝贝丫头?简介无力,一切宠爱全部展现在文中,希望大家多提宝贵意见,喜欢请收藏,加入你的书架中,就能看到最新的更新状态哦~…本文一对一,宠文,爽文。温馨,浪漫,真情无下限。盆友们,快来跳坑昂!
  • 逆天特工之凤绝

    逆天特工之凤绝

    她是二十一世纪的拥有异能的神秘特工,不属于任何国家和组织,专门调查人类认知以外的事物。一次任务她掉进了时间的缝隙,穿越到了一个历史上没有的时代。无论在现代还是古代,她都注定是女王,看她如何在古代混的风生水起,狂妄是她的特权,邪佞是她的本性,美貌和智慧是她的武器,睥睨大地,也只是需要她的一个意愿而已。
  • 不是为了爱

    不是为了爱

    美丽善良的老师小艾,偶遇精神失常的“犀利哥”阿布。阿布日夜跟踪小艾,甚至守候在她的家门口,引起了小艾的同情和好奇。这到底是什么原因?阿布的人生到底经历了怎样的曲折?小艾又将面临怎样的选择?……故事通过普通人的普通情感,揭示了人间的真情大爱,它告诉我们,真善美其实就在我们身边。
  • 最强王妃,暴王请臣服

    最强王妃,暴王请臣服

    古武特工意外死亡,一朝异世重生。睁眼是燎原烈火,满门歼灭,独剩她这个残废郡主面对两拔兵团。烈火中,他霸气劫掠她的人,带回府中——囚禁。世人所知,她扶卿容就是个没了双腿的残废,其父通敌叛国,满门被灭,独她苟且偷生,被有“嗜杀魔鬼”之称的宴王囚禁在王府中,终日没了自由。但世人却不知,宴王府中的扶卿容却是另一番情景。*双腿被折,终日躲在侯府中哭哭啼啼又软弱的容郡主突然换了个人,惊世风华,这哪还是那个软弱容郡主!残废?哼,她扶卿容不过覆手间,天下都要为她颤上一颤。*他霸道,脾气臭,杀人如麻,满身坏缺点的倾权王爷。他的身份,地位,做为,无不让人忌惮,颤栗。负有“嗜杀魔鬼”的他,无不让世间女子为他倾心,可唯独在这个“残废”身上,他却狠栽了跟头,没了翻身的机会。*惊天身世,折腿郡主站于人前,素手倾覆,逐鹿天下!携手相待,双双立于千军万马当前,从此夫妻共进退!
  • 心若放宽,处处是晴天

    心若放宽,处处是晴天

    本书的主旨并不是在纯粹地讨论天气问题,而是借用天气来比喻生活。今天下雨,不能外出,但是我们可以躲在家中喝酒、打牌,也可以是其乐融融;如果我们失恋了,或失业了,就当从没恋爱过、就业过,一切不就是重新再来一次吗?这就是此书的主旨,书中所有的内容也都是围绕这一主旨来展开讨论和叙述的,即:生活中无论是晴天还是阴天,生活中无论发生什么事情,都以喜乐的心去看待,乐观积极地去面对。其结果就是你的心情总是愉快的,生活也总是处处充满阳光。
  • 侯门嫡妻:夫人,拜个堂

    侯门嫡妻:夫人,拜个堂

    单清霜恨死那个戴面具的,那个一言不发就把她抢走的人,偏生又是如此的霸道,他还说,要抢她一辈子。温侯:我家财万贯,一人之下,万人之上单清霜:你喜欢我温侯:我是侯爷!要不了多久还会是国公单清霜:你喜欢我温侯:我迷倒万千少女,多少人喊着要给我生猴子单清霜:你喜欢我温侯:能换一句么,我好歹也是穿越者……单清霜:我救过你,有两世记忆,一品诰命夫人,皇后是我姐姐……温侯:没错,我喜欢你,什么时候结婚?……