登陆注册
5380500000230

第230章

DEAR HOWELLS,--My, it's a lucky day!--of the sort when it never rains but it pours.I was to write an introduction to a nobler book--the English translation of the Official Record (unabridged) of the Trials and Rehabilitation of Joan of Arc, and make a lot of footnotes.I wrote the introduction in Sweden, and here a few days ago I tore loose from a tale I am writing, and took the MS book and went at the grind of note-making --a fearful job for a man not used to it.This morning brought a note from my excellent friend Murray, a rich Englishman who edits the translation, saying, "Never mind the notes--we'll make the translators do them." That was comfort and joy.

The same mail brought a note from Canon Wilberforce, asking me to talk Joan of Arc in his drawing-room to the Dukes and Earls and M.P.'s--(which would fetch me out of my seclusion and into print, and I couldn't have that,) and so of course I must run down to the Abbey and explain--and lose an hour.Just then came Murray and said "Leave that to me --I'll go and do the explaining and put the thing off 3 months; you write a note and tell him I am coming."(Which I did, later.Wilberforce carried off my hat from a lunch party last summer, and in to-day's note he said he wouldn't steal my new hat this time.In my note I said I couldn't make the drawing-room talk, now --Murray would explain; and added a P.S.: "You mustn't think it is because I am afraid to trust my hat in your reach again, for I assure you upon honor it isn't.I should bring my old one."I had suggested to Murray a fortnight ago, that he get some big guns to write introductory monographs for the book.

Miss X, Joan's Voices and Prophecies.

The Lord Chief Justice of England, the legal prodigies which she performed before her judges.

Lord Roberts, her military genius.

Kipling, her patriotism.

And so on.When he came this morning he said he had captured Miss X;that Lord Roberts and Kipling were going to take hold and see if they could do monographs worthy of the book.He hadn't run the others to cover yet, but was on their track.Very good news.It is a grand book, and is entitled to the best efforts of the best people.As for me, Itook pains with my Introduction, and I admit that it is no slouch of a performance.

Then I came down to Chatto's, and found your all too beautiful letter, and was lifted higher than ever.Next came letters from America properly glorifying my Christian Science article in the Cosmopolitan (and one roundly abusing it,) and a letter from John Brisben Walker enclosing $200additional pay for the article (he had already paid enough, but I didn't mention that--which wasn't right of me, for this is the second time he has done such a thing, whereas Gilder has done it only once and no one else ever.) I make no prices with Walker and Gilder--I can trust them.

And last of all came a letter from M-.How I do wish that man was in hell.Even-the briefest line from that idiot puts me in a rage.

But on the whole it has been a delightful day, and with M---- in hell it would have been perfect.But that will happen, and I can wait.

Ah, if I could look into the inside of people as you do, and put it on paper, and invent things for them to do and say, and tell how they said it, I could writs a fine and readable book now, for I've got a prime subject.I've written 30,000 words of it and satisfied myself that the stuff is there; so I am going to discard that MS and begin all over again and have a good time with it.

Oh, I know how you feel! I've been in hell myself.You are there tonight.By difference in time you are at luncheon, now--and not eating it.Nothing is so lonesome as gadding around platforming.I have declined 45 lectures to-day-England and Scotland.I wanted the money, but not the torture: Good luck to you!--and repentance.

With love to all of you MARK.

LETTERS OF 1900, MAINLY TO TWICHELL.THE BOER WAR.BOXER TROUBLES.

同类推荐
  • 定应大师布袋和尚传

    定应大师布袋和尚传

    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。
  • 平夏錄

    平夏錄

    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。
  • 大洞经吉祥神咒法

    大洞经吉祥神咒法

    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。
  • 佛为年少比丘说正事经

    佛为年少比丘说正事经

    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。
  • 纳兰词全集

    纳兰词全集

    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
  • 先进遗风

    先进遗风

    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。
  • 成为淘宝创业的超级毕业生

    成为淘宝创业的超级毕业生

    本书讲述如何通过淘宝创业将大学在校生打造成为“超级毕业生”。主要内容包括大学生从事淘宝创业的理论基础、学以致用的操作指南,以及可资借鉴的案例。书中的理念篇可供对创业教育感兴趣的高校教师参考;实战篇提出的“淘宝十二招”,操作简单,易学易用;案例篇讲述了十位成功在校创业大学生的故事,主要供学生参考。读完本书,相信凡是关注大学教育者或希望通过淘宝创业的大学生,皆能从中获得启发,对创业从无心变有心,从有心变行动,亲身投入或参与到这个伟大的事业中来。
  • 爆萌小福晋:九爷心尖宠

    爆萌小福晋:九爷心尖宠

    江染离很呕血,她刚被暗恋了几年的男神表白,还没来得及牵牵小手就穿越了,而且还穿到了大清朝!这也就算了,可为什么她要嫁给九阿哥胤禟做侧福晋,话说她想活的长一点、久一点。看着渐渐逼近的九爷,无法接受这个现实的江染离决定为生活拼一把。总之,无论用什么办法都要珍惜生命,远离九爷!
  • 超幻世纪

    超幻世纪

    电影、电视剧、动漫、小说、电子游戏等描绘的幻想世界连通现实世界,想要获得超凡的力量?想要扬名立万?想要财富权势?想要装逼打脸称霸世界?所有这一切不是没有机会,不过,你所知的幻想世界原本的剧情怕是作用有限,至少得面对成千上万的竞争者,幻想世界中的那些牛逼人物也不是工具人、NPC,不说各种凶残怪物,不起眼的小动物都可能要了你的命……这不是游戏,没有外挂,没有BUG,无法复活重生,一旦犯错,极大概率付出惨重的代价,没有反悔的机会。即便没犯错,也可能因为一些莫名其妙的原因丢掉性命,没有道理可讲。
  • 异界之书

    异界之书

    很多人认为,我们的宇宙和世界是独一无二的,然而事实却并非如此,在宏观宇宙当中,世界是由许多不同的维度所构成的,在现实维度之外,还有许多其他维度的世界。每一个世界都有着截然不同的规则和构造,世界与世界之间被时空之墙所分隔,使得不同法则下的不同维度世界之间不会发生交集。然而,利用一种被称为召唤术的神奇法术,人们将异度空间的生物召唤到现实世界中来。具有这样力量和知识的人,被称为召唤师。而异界之书,便是记录召唤术知识的载体。请小心面对你接下来所看到的一切,因为它们很有可能将带你走进一个超出你想象之外的世界。PS:书友群号:285461405。加群时请注明【书友】。
  • 用易经的观点读透西游记

    用易经的观点读透西游记

    俗话说“书读百遍其意自见”。可见,好书确实是要多读几遍才行的。多次阅读之后,很多人发现《西游记》里面不仅有神仙妖怪、风花雪月、刀光剑影,而且还蕴含着一种超强的、超绝的、超越的智慧。这种智慧就是——易经!易学是中国文化生活的根源,深刻地影响和决定着中华文明的历程,对中国文史学的发展,同样起着决定性的作用。而《西游记》的作者是明朝的吴承恩,一代大文豪,博览群书,他正巧通晓阴阳五行和佛理!
  • 陪你到将来

    陪你到将来

    我们的遇见注定我会一直陪着你出乎意料我却爱上了你
  • 最强坑人王系统

    最强坑人王系统

    最强坑人王系统只有你是想不到呢,没有你做不到的。开局就是一个坑人王系统,让你装逼坑人让你飞,看不顺眼的,长的丑的,就暴揍一顿。自此,陈真走上了一条装逼的路,他只需要装逼,便能升级打怪,道:“唉,为啥非要惹我呢?看来不装逼顺便坑坑你们,你们怕是皮痒了吧,哈哈!”欢迎加入霸天帮,群聊号码:870548637
  • THE SONNETS

    THE SONNETS

    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。
  • 温处士能画鹭鹚以四

    温处士能画鹭鹚以四

    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。