A novel by Anatole France. Anatole France - biography, information, personal life. France and opera

11.07.2021

FRANCE, ANATOLE(France, Anatole, pseudonym; real name - Jacques Anatole François Thibault, Thibault) (1844–1924), French critic, novelist and poet. Born on April 16, 1844 in the family of a bookseller. He began his literary career slowly: he was 35 years old when his first collection of short stories was published. He dedicated autobiographical novels to his childhood years My friend's book (Le Livre de mon ami, 1885) and Little Pierre (Le Petit Pierre, 1918).

First collection Golden Poems (Les Poémes dorés, 1873) and verse drama Corinthian wedding (Les Noces corinthiennes, 1876) testified to him as a promising poet. The beginning of France's fame as an outstanding prose writer of his generation was laid by the novel The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard (Le Crime de Silvestre Bonnard, 1881).

Appeared in 1891 Thais (Taïs), for her - Queen's Tavern Houndstooth (La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque, 1893) and Judgments of Mr. Jerome Coignard (Les Opinions de M.Jérôme Coignard, 1893), which gave a brilliant satirical depiction of the French 18th century. IN red lily (Le Lys Rouge, 1894), France's first novel on a modern plot, describes a story of passionate love in Florence; Garden of Epicurus (Le Jardin d'Épicure, 1894) contains examples of his philosophical reflections on happiness, which consists in the achievement of sensual and intellectual joys.

After his election to the French Academy (1896), France began publishing the series Modern history (Histoire contemporary, 1897–1901) from four novels – Under the roadside elm (L'Orme du mail, 1897), Willow mannequin (Le Mannequin d'osier, 1897), Amethyst ring (L'Anneau d'améthyste, 1899) and Mister Bergeret in Paris (M.Bergeret à Paris, 1901). The writer depicts both Parisian and provincial society with sly wit, but at the same time sharply critical. IN Modern history current events are mentioned, in particular the Dreyfus affair.

In the novella Krenkebil case (L'Affaire Crainquebille, 1901), later revised into a play Krenkebil (Crainquebille, 1903), a judicial travesty of justice is exposed. Satirical allegory in the spirit of Swift Penguin Island (L'Île des pingoins, 1908) recreates the history of the formation of the French nation. IN Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1908) France tried to separate facts from legends in the biography of the national saint, although he himself was skeptical of any historical research, considering judgments about the past to always be subjective to one degree or another. In a novel dedicated to the French Revolution The gods are thirsty (Les Dieux ont soif, 1912) expressed his disbelief in the effectiveness of revolutionary violence; written on a modern plot Rise of the Angels (La Révolte des anges, 1914) Christianity was ridiculed. Book On a glorious path (Sur la Voie glorieuse, 1915) was filled with a patriotic spirit, but already in 1916 France condemned the war. In four volumes Literary life (La Vie littéraire, 1888–1894) he showed himself to be an insightful and subtle critic, but extreme subjectivity forced him to refrain from any assessments, since in his eyes the significance of a work was determined not so much by its merits as by the personal preferences of the critic. He joined E. Zola in defending Dreyfus, and from a collection of essays To better times (Vers les temps meilleurs, 1906) shows his sincere interest in socialism. France supported the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. In the early 1920s, he was among those who sympathized with the newly created French Communist Party.

For many years, France was the main attraction in the salon of his close friend Madame Armand de Caiave, and his Parisian home (Villa Seid) became a place of pilgrimage for young writers, both French and foreign. In 1921 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

France's subtle wit is reminiscent of the irony of Voltaire, with whom he has much in common. In his philosophical views, he developed and popularized the ideas of E. Renan. France died in Tours on October 13, 1924.

Anatole France (French Anatole France; real name - Francois Anatole Thibault, François-Anatole Thibault). Born April 16, 1844 in Paris - died October 12, 1924 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire. French writer and literary critic. Member of the French Academy (1896). Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1921), the money of which he donated to the benefit of the famine-stricken in Russia.

Anatole France's father was the owner of a bookstore that specialized in literature dedicated to the history of the French Revolution. Anatole France barely graduated from the Jesuit college, where he studied extremely reluctantly, and, having failed the final exams several times, he passed them only at the age of 20.

Since 1866, Anatole France was forced to earn his own living, and began his career as a bibliographer. Gradually he becomes acquainted with the literary life of that time, and becomes one of the notable participants in the Parnassian school.

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, France served for some time in the army, and after demobilization he continued to write and perform various editorial work.

In 1875, he had his first real opportunity to prove himself as a journalist, when the Parisian newspaper Le Temps ordered him a series of critical articles about modern writers. The very next year he becomes the leading literary critic of this newspaper and runs his own column called “Literary Life.”

In 1876, he was also appointed deputy director of the library of the French Senate and held this post for the next fourteen years, which gave him the opportunity and means to engage in literature.

In 1913 he visited Russia.

In 1922, his works were included in the Catholic Index of Prohibited Books.

He was a member of the French Geographical Society.

In 1898, France took an active part in the Dreyfus affair. Under the influence of Marcel Proust, France was the first to sign Emile Zola's famous manifesto letter “I Accuse.”

From these times, France became a prominent figure in the reformist and later socialist camps, took part in the establishment of public universities, gave lectures to workers, and participated in rallies organized by leftist forces. France becomes a close friend of the socialist leader Jean Jaurès and the literary master of the French Socialist Party.

The novel that brought him fame, The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard, published in 1881, is a satire that favors frivolity and kindness over harsh virtue.

In France's subsequent novels and stories, the spirit of different historical eras was recreated with enormous erudition and subtle psychological insight. “The Inn of Queen Houndstooth” (1893) is a satirical story in the style of the 18th century, with the original central figure of Abbot Jerome Coignard: he is pious, but leads a sinful life and justifies his “falls” by the fact that they strengthen the spirit of humility in him. France brings out the same abbot in “The Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard” (“Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard”, 1893).

In a number of stories, in particular in the collection “The Mother of Pearl Casket” (1892), France reveals a vivid imagination; his favorite theme is the juxtaposition of pagan and Christian worldviews in stories from the first centuries of Christianity or the early Renaissance. The best examples of this kind are “Saint Satyr”. In this he had a certain influence on Dmitry Merezhkovsky. The novel "Thais" (1890) - the story of the famous ancient courtesan who became a saint - is written in the same spirit of a mixture of epicureanism and Christian charity.

The novel “Red Lily” (1894), against the backdrop of exquisitely artistic descriptions of Florence and primitive painting, presents a purely Parisian adulterous drama in the spirit of Bourget (with the exception of the beautiful descriptions of Florence and paintings).

Then France began a series of unique novels, highly political in content, under the general title: “Modern History” (“Histoire Contemporaine”). This is a historical chronicle with philosophical coverage of events. As a modern historian, France reveals the insight and impartiality of a scientific explorer along with the subtle irony of a skeptic who knows the value of human feelings and endeavors.

The fictional plot is intertwined in these novels with actual social events, with the depiction of election campaigning, intrigues of the provincial bureaucracy, incidents of the Dreyfus trial, and street demonstrations. Along with this, the scientific research and abstract theories of an armchair scientist, troubles in his home life, his wife’s betrayal, and the psychology of a puzzled and somewhat myopic thinker in life’s affairs are described.

At the center of the events alternating in the novels of this series is the same person - the learned historian Bergeret, who embodies the author’s philosophical ideal: a condescending and skeptical attitude towards reality, ironic equanimity in judgments about the actions of those around him.

The writer’s next work, the two-volume historical work “The Life of Joan of Arc” (“Vie de Jeanne d’Arc”, 1908), written under the influence of the historian Ernest Renan, was poorly received by the public. Clerics objected to the demystification of Joan, and historians found the book insufficiently faithful to the original sources.

But a parody of French history, Penguin Island, also published in 1908, was received with great enthusiasm.

In "Island of the Penguins", the myopic Abbot Mael mistakenly mistook the penguins for humans and baptized them, causing a lot of trouble in heaven and on earth. Subsequently, in his indescribable satirical manner, France describes the emergence of private property and the state, the emergence of the first royal dynasty, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Most of the book is devoted to contemporary events in France: the coup attempt by J. Boulanger, the Dreyfus affair, the morals of the Waldeck-Rousseau cabinet. At the end, a gloomy forecast of the future is given: the power of financial monopolies and nuclear terrorism destroying civilization. After which society is revived again and gradually comes to the same end, which hints at the futility of changing penguin (human) nature.

The writer’s next great work of fiction, the novel “The Gods Thirst” (1912), is dedicated to the French Revolution.

His novel The Revolt of Angels (1914) is a social satire written with elements of playful mysticism. It is not the all-good God who reigns in Heaven, but the evil and imperfect Demiurge, and Satan is forced to raise a rebellion against him, which is a kind of mirror image of the social revolutionary movement on Earth.

After this book, France turned entirely to the autobiographical theme and wrote essays about childhood and adolescence, which were later included in the novels “Little Pierre” (“Le Petit Pierre”, 1918) and “Life in Bloom” (“La Vie en fleur”, 1922 ).

France's works "Thais" and "The Juggler of Our Lady" served as the source for the libretto of operas by composer Jules Massenet.

France is a philosopher and poet. His worldview boils down to refined epicureanism. He is the sharpest of the French critics of modern reality, without any sentimentality revealing the weaknesses and moral failings of human nature, the imperfection and ugliness of social life, morals, and relationships between people; but in his criticism he brings a special reconciliation, philosophical contemplation and serenity, a warming feeling of love for weak humanity.

He does not judge or moralize, but only penetrates into the meaning of negative phenomena. This combination of irony with love for people, with an artistic understanding of beauty in all manifestations of life is a characteristic feature of France's works.

France's humor lies in the fact that his hero applies the same method to the study of the most heterogeneous phenomena. The same historical criterion by which he judges events in ancient Egypt serves him to judge the Dreyfus affair and its impact on society; the same analytical method with which he approaches abstract scientific questions helps him explain the act of his wife who cheated on him and, having understood it, calmly leave, without condemning, but without forgiving.

Bibliography of Anatole France:

Novels by Anatole France:

Jocaste (1879)
"The Skinny Cat" (Le Chat maigre, 1879)
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard (Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard, 1881)
The Passion of Jean Servien (Les Désirs de Jean Servien, 1882)
Count Abel (Abeille, conte, 1883)
Thais (1890)
Queen Houndstooth Tavern (La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque, 1892)
Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard (Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard, 1893)
Red Lily (Le Lys rouge, 1894)
Epicurus' Garden (Le Jardin d'Épicure, 1895)
Theater history (Histoires comiques, 1903)
On a white stone (Sur la pierre blanche, 1905)
Penguin Island (L'Île des Pingouins, 1908)
The Gods Thirst (Les dieux ont soif, 1912)
The Revolt of the Angels (La Révolte des anges, 1914).

Modern history (L’Histoire contemporaine) from Anatole France:

Under the City Elms (L’Orme du mail, 1897)
The Willow Mannequin (Le Mannequin d’osier, 1897)
The Amethyst Ring (L’Anneau d’améthyste, 1899)
Monsieur Bergeret in Paris (Monsieur Bergeret à Paris, 1901).

Autobiographical cycle:

My Friend's Book (Le Livre de mon ami, 1885)
Pierre Nozière (1899)
Little Pierre (Le Petit Pierre, 1918)
Life in Bloom (La Vie en fleur, 1922).

Collections of short stories:

Balthasar (1889)
Mother-of-pearl casket (L’Étui de nacre, 1892)
The Well of Saint Clare (Le Puits de Sainte Claire, 1895)
Clio (Clio, 1900)
The Procurator of Judea (Le Procurateur de Judée, 1902)
Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and many other useful stories (L’Affaire Crainquebille, 1901)
Stories of Jacques Tournebroche (Les Contes de Jacques Tournebroche, 1908)
The Seven Wives of Bluebeard (Les Sept Femmes de Barbe bleue et autres contes merveilleux, 1909).

Drama by Anatole France:

What the devil isn't joking about (Au petit bonheur, un acte, 1898)
Crainquebille, pièce, 1903
The Willow Mannequin (Le Mannequin d’osier, comédie, 1908)
Comedy about a man who married a mute (La Comédie de celui qui épousa une femme muette, deux actes, 1908).

Essay by Anatole France:

The Life of Joan of Arc (Vie de Jeanne d'Arc, 1908)
Literary life (Critique littéraire)
The Latin Genius (Le Génie latin, 1913).

Poetry of Anatole France:

Golden Poems (Poèmes dorés, 1873)
Corinthian wedding (Les Noces corinthiennes, 1876).

France Anatole (Jacques Anatole François Thibault) (1844 – 1924)

French critic, novelist and poet. Born in Paris in the family of a bookseller. He began his literary career slowly: he was 35 years old when his first collection of short stories was published. He dedicated the autobiographical novels “The Book of My Friend” and “Little Pierre” to his childhood years.

The first collection “Golden Poems” and the poetic drama “Corinthian Wedding” testified to him as a promising poet. France's fame as an outstanding prose writer of his generation began with the novel The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard.

In 1891, “Thais” appeared, followed by “The Tavern of Queen Houndstooth” and “The Judgments of Monsieur Jerome Coignard,” which gave a brilliant satirical image of French society in the 18th century. The Red Lily, France's first novel with a contemporary plot, describes a story of passionate love in Florence; The Garden of Epicurus contains examples of his philosophical thoughts on happiness. After his election to the French Academy, France began publishing the “Modern History” series of four novels - “Under the Wayside Elm”, “The Willow Mannequin”, “The Amethyst Ring” and “Monsieur Bergeret in Paris”.

The writer depicts both Parisian and provincial society with sly wit. In the short story “The Krenkebil Case”, later revised into the play “Krenkebil”, a judicial parody of justice is exposed. A satirical allegory in the spirit of Swift, “Penguin Island” recreates the history of the formation of the French nation.

In Joan of Arc, France attempted to separate fact from legend in the biography of the national saint. The novel “The Gods Thirst” is dedicated to the French Revolution. The book “On the Glorious Path” is filled with a patriotic spirit, but already in 1916 France condemned the war. In the four volumes of Literary Life, he showed himself to be an insightful and subtle critic. France supported the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. In the early 20s. he was among those who sympathized with the newly created French Communist Party.

For many years, France was the main attraction in the salon of his close friend Madame Armand de Caiave, and his Parisian home (Villa Seid) became a place of pilgrimage for young writers - both French and foreign. In 1921 he was awarded the Nobel Prize Literature Prize.

France's subtle wit is reminiscent of the irony of Voltaire, with whom he has much in common. In his philosophical views, he developed and popularized the ideas of E. Renan.

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Anatole France
Anatole France
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Birth name:	Francois Anatole Thibault
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Biography

Anatole France died in 1924. After his death, his brain was examined by French anatomists, who, in particular, found that its mass was 1017 g. He was buried in the cemetery in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Social activity

In 1898, France took an active part in the Dreyfus affair. Influenced by Marcel Proust, France was the first to sign Émile Zola's famous manifesto letter.

Creation

Early creativity

The novel that brought him fame, The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard (French)Russian, published in 1881, is a satire that privileges frivolity and kindness over stern virtue.

In France's subsequent novels and stories, the spirit of different historical eras was recreated with enormous erudition and subtle psychological insight. "Queen Houndstooth's Tavern" (French)Russian(1893) - a satirical story in the style of the 18th century, with the original central figure of Abbot Jerome Coignard: he is pious, but leads a sinful life and justifies his “falls” by the fact that they strengthen the spirit of humility in him. France brings out the same abbot in “The Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard” (“Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard”, 1893).

In a number of stories, in particular, in the collection “Mother of Pearl Casket” (French)Russian(1892), France discovers a vivid fantasy; his favorite theme is the juxtaposition of pagan and Christian worldviews in stories from the first centuries of Christianity or the early Renaissance. The best examples of this kind are “Saint Satyr”. In this he had a certain influence on Dmitry Merezhkovsky. Novel "Thais" (French)Russian(1890) - the story of a famous ancient courtesan who became a saint - is written in the same spirit of a mixture of Epicureanism and Christian charity.

Characteristics of worldview from the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia

France is a philosopher and poet. His worldview boils down to refined Epicureanism. He is the sharpest of the French critics of modern reality, without any sentimentality revealing the weaknesses and moral failings of human nature, the imperfection and ugliness of social life, morals, and relationships between people; but in his criticism he brings a special reconciliation, philosophical contemplation and serenity, a warming feeling of love for weak humanity. He does not judge or moralize, but only penetrates into the meaning of negative phenomena. This combination of irony with love for people, with an artistic understanding of beauty in all manifestations of life is a characteristic feature of France's works. France's humor lies in the fact that his hero applies the same method to the study of the most heterogeneous phenomena. The same historical criterion by which he judges events in ancient Egypt serves him to judge the Dreyfus affair and its impact on society; the same analytical method with which he approaches abstract scientific questions helps him explain the act of his wife who cheated on him and, having understood it, calmly leave, without condemning, but without forgiving.

Quotes

“Religions, like chameleons, take on the color of the soil in which they live.”

“There is no magic stronger than the magic of words.”

Essays

Modern history (L'Histoire contemporaine)

Under the city elms (L’Orme du mail, 1897).
Willow mannequin (Le Mannequin d'osier, 1897).
Amethyst ring (L’Anneau d’améthyste, 1899).
Monsieur Bergeret in Paris (Monsieur Bergeret à Paris, 1901).

Autobiographical cycle

My Friend's Book (Le Livre de mon ami, 1885).
Pierre Nozière (1899).
Little Pierre (Le Petit Pierre, 1918).
Life in Bloom (La Vie en fleur, 1922).

Novels

Jocaste (Jocaste, 1879).
“The Skinny Cat” (Le Chat maigre, 1879).
The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard (Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard, 1881).
The Passion of Jean Servien (Les Désirs de Jean Servien, 1882).
Count Abel (Abeille, conte, 1883).
Thaïs (1890).
The Tavern of Queen Goosefoot (La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque, 1892).
Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard (Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard, 1893).
Red lily (Le Lys rouge, 1894).
Epicurus' Garden (Le Jardin d'Épicure, 1895).
Theater history (Histoires comiques, 1903).
On a white stone (Sur la pierre blanche, 1905).
Penguin Island (L’Île des Pingouins, 1908).
The gods thirst (Les dieux ont soif, 1912).
The Revolt of the Angels (La Révolte des anges, 1914).

Collections of short stories

Balthasar (1889).
Mother-of-pearl casket (L’Étui de nacre, 1892).
The Well of Saint Clare (Le Puits de Sainte Claire, 1895).
Clio (Clio, 1900).
The Procurator of Judea (Le Procurateur de Judée, 1902).
Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and many other useful stories (L’Affaire Crainquebille, 1901).
Stories of Jacques Tournebroche (Les Contes de Jacques Tournebroche, 1908).
The Seven Wives of Bluebeard (Les Sept Femmes de Barbe bleue et autres contes merveilleux, 1909).

Dramaturgy

What the devil is not joking (Au petit bonheur, un acte, 1898).
Crainquebille, pièce, 1903.
The Willow Mannequin (Le Mannequin d’osier, comédie, 1908).
Comedy about a man who married a mute (La Comédie de celui qui épousa une femme muette, deux actes, 1908).

Essay

The Life of Joan of Arc (Vie de Jeanne d'Arc, 1908).
Literary life (Critique littéraire).
The Latin Genius (Le Génie latin, 1913).

Poetry

Golden Poems (Poèmes dorés, 1873).
Corinthian wedding (Les Noces corinthiennes, 1876).

Publication of works in Russian translation

France A. Collected Works in eight volumes. - M.: State Publishing House of Fiction, 1957-1960.
France A. Collected works in four volumes. - M.: Fiction, 1983-1984.

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Notes

Literature

Likhodzievsky S. I. Anatole France [Text]: Essay on creativity. Tashkent: Goslitizdat of the UzSSR, 1962. - 419 p.

Excerpt characterizing France, Anatole

Stella stood “frozen” in a stupor, unable to make even the slightest movement, and with eyes as round as large saucers, she observed this incredible beauty that had suddenly fallen from somewhere...
Suddenly the air around us swayed violently, and a luminous creature appeared right in front of us. It looked very similar to my old “crowned” star friend, but it was clearly someone else. Having recovered from the shock and looked at him more closely, I realized that he was not at all like my old friends. It’s just that the first impression “fixed” the same ring on the forehead and similar power, but otherwise there was nothing in common between them. All the “guests” who had come to me before were tall, but this creature was very tall, probably somewhere around a full five meters. His strange sparkling clothes (if they could be called that) fluttered all the time, scattering sparkling crystal tails behind them, although not the slightest breeze was felt around. Long, silver hair shone with a strange lunar halo, creating the impression of “eternal cold” around his head... And his eyes were the kind that it would be better to never look at!.. Before I saw them, even in my wildest imagination it was impossible imagine such eyes!.. They were an incredibly bright pink color and sparkled with a thousand diamond stars, as if lighting up every time he looked at someone. It was completely unusual and breathtakingly beautiful...
He smelled of the mysterious distant Space and something else that my little child’s brain was not yet able to comprehend...
The creature raised his hand with his palm facing us and mentally said:
- I am Eley. You are not ready to come - come back...
Naturally, I was immediately wildly interested in who he was, and I really wanted to somehow hold him at least for a short time.
– Not ready for what? – I asked as calmly as I could.
- Come back home. - He answered.
From him came (as it seemed to me then) incredible power and at the same time some strange deep warmth of loneliness. I wanted him to never leave, and suddenly I felt so sad that tears welled up in my eyes...
“You will come back,” he said, as if answering my sad thoughts. - But it won’t be soon... Now go away.
The glow around him became brighter... and, much to my chagrin, he disappeared...
The sparkling huge “spiral” continued to shine for some time, and then began to crumble and completely melted, leaving behind only deep night.
Stella finally “woke up” from the shock, and everything around immediately shone with a cheerful light, surrounding us with fancy flowers and colorful birds, which her stunning imagination hastened to create as quickly as possible, apparently wanting to free herself as quickly as possible from the oppressive impression of eternity that had fallen on us.
“Do you think it’s me?” I whispered, still unable to believe what happened.
- Certainly! – the little girl chirped again in a cheerful voice. – This is what you wanted, right? It is so huge and scary, although very beautiful. I would never stay there to live! – she stated with complete confidence.
And I could not forget that incredibly huge and such attractively majestic beauty, which, now I knew for sure, would forever become my dream, and the desire to return there someday would haunt me for many, many years, until, one fine day, I will not finally find my real, lost HOME...
- Why are you sad? You did it so well! – Stella exclaimed in surprise. – Do you want me to show you something else?
She wrinkled her nose conspiratorially, making her look like a cute, funny little monkey.
And again everything turned upside down, “landing” us in some crazy-bright “parrot” world... in which thousands of birds screamed wildly and this abnormal cacophony made our heads spin.
- Oh! – Stella laughed loudly, “not like that!”
And immediately there was a pleasant silence... We played around together for a long time, now alternately creating funny, cheerful, fairy-tale worlds, which really turned out to be quite easy. I couldn’t tear myself away from all this unearthly beauty and from the crystal-clear, amazing girl Stella, who carried a warm and joyful light within her, and with whom I sincerely wanted to stay close forever...
But real life, unfortunately, called me back to “sink to Earth” and I had to say goodbye, not knowing whether I would ever be able to see her again, even for a moment.
Stella looked with her big, round eyes, as if wanting and not daring to ask something... Then I decided to help her:
– Do you want me to come again? – I asked with hidden hope.
Her funny face again shone with all shades of joy:
– Are you really, really going to come?! – she squealed happily.
“I really, really will come...” I firmly promised...

The days, loaded to the brim with everyday worries, turned into weeks, and I still could not find free time to visit my sweet little friend. I thought about her almost every day and swore to myself that tomorrow I would definitely find time to “unwind my soul” for at least a couple of hours with this wonderful, bright little man... And also another, very strange thought did not give me peace - very I wanted to introduce Stella’s grandmother to my no less interesting and unusual grandmother... For some inexplicable reason, I was sure that both of these wonderful women would definitely find something to talk about...
So, finally, one fine day I suddenly decided that I would stop putting everything off “for tomorrow” and, although I was not at all sure that Stella’s grandmother would be there today, I decided that it would be wonderful if today I finally visited I’ll introduce my new girlfriend, and if I’m lucky, I’ll introduce our dear grandmothers to each other.
Some strange force literally pushed me out of the house, as if someone from afar was very softly and, at the same time, very persistently mentally calling me.
I quietly approached my grandmother and, as usual, began to hover around her, trying to figure out how best to present all this to her.
“Well, shall we go or something?” the grandmother asked calmly.
I stared at her dumbfounded, not understanding how she could find out that I was even going somewhere?!
Grandmother smiled slyly and, as if nothing had happened, asked:
“What, don’t you want to walk with me?”
In my heart, outraged by such an unceremonious invasion into my “private mental world,” I decided to “test” my grandmother.
- Well, of course I want to! – I exclaimed joyfully, and without saying where we would go, I headed towards the door.
– Take a sweater, we’ll be back late – it’ll be cool! – the grandmother shouted after him.
I couldn't stand it any longer...
- And how do you know where we are going?! – I ruffled my feathers like a frozen sparrow and muttered offendedly.
“It’s all written all over your face,” the grandmother smiled.
Of course, it wasn’t written on my face, but I would give a lot to find out how she always knew everything so confidently when it came to me?
A few minutes later we were already stomping together towards the forest, enthusiastically chatting about the most diverse and incredible stories, which she, naturally, knew much more than I did, and this was one of the reasons why I loved walking with her so much.
It was just the two of us, and there was no need to be afraid that someone would overhear and someone might not like what we were talking about.
Grandmother very easily accepted all my oddities and was never afraid of anything; and sometimes, if she saw that I was completely “lost” in something, she gave me advice to help me get out of this or that undesirable situation, but most often she simply observed how I reacted to life’s difficulties, which had already become permanent, without finally came across on my “spiked” path. Lately it has begun to seem to me that my grandmother is just waiting for something new to come along, in order to see if I have matured at least a heel, or if I am still “stuck away” in my “happy childhood”, not wanting to get out of my short childhood shirts. But even for her “cruel” behavior, I loved her very much and tried to take advantage of every convenient moment to spend time with her as often as possible.
The forest greeted us with the welcoming rustle of golden autumn leaves. The weather was magnificent, and one could hope that my new friend, by “luck,” would also be there.
I picked a small bouquet of some modest autumn flowers that still remained, and a few minutes later we were already next to the cemetery, at the gate of which... in the same place sat the same miniature sweet old lady...
- And I already thought I couldn’t wait for you! – she greeted joyfully.
My jaw literally dropped from such surprise, and at that moment I apparently looked quite stupid, because the old woman, laughing cheerfully, came up to us and affectionately patted me on the cheek.
- Well, you go, honey, Stella has already been waiting for you. And we'll sit here for a while...
I didn’t even have time to ask how I would get to the same Stella, when everything disappeared again somewhere, and I found myself in the already familiar world of Stella’s wild fantasy, sparkling and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, and, without having time to take a better look around, I immediately I heard an enthusiastic voice:
- Oh, how good it is that you came! And I waited and waited!..
The girl flew up to me like a whirlwind and plopped a little red “dragon” right into my arms... I recoiled in surprise, but immediately laughed cheerfully, because it was the funniest and funniest creature in the world!..
“The little dragon,” if you can call him that, bulged his delicate pink belly and hissed at me threateningly, apparently hoping very much to scare me in this way. But when he saw that no one was going to be scared here, he calmly settled down on my lap and began to snore peacefully, showing how good he is and how much he should be loved...
I asked Stella what its name was and how long ago she created it.
- Oh, I haven’t even figured out what to call you yet! And he appeared right now! Do you really like him? – the girl chirped cheerfully, and I felt that she was pleased to see me again.
- This is for you! – she suddenly said. - He will live with you.
The little dragon funnyly stretched out its spiky muzzle, apparently deciding to see if I had anything interesting... And suddenly licked me right on the nose! Stella squealed with delight and was clearly very pleased with her creation.
“Well, okay,” I agreed, “while I’m here, he can be with me.”
“Aren’t you going to take him with you?” – Stella was surprised.
And then I realized that she apparently doesn’t know at all that we are “different” and that we no longer live in the same world. Most likely, the grandmother, in order to feel sorry for her, did not tell the girl the whole truth, and she sincerely thought that this was exactly the same world in which she had lived before, with the only difference being that now she could still create her own world.. .
I knew for sure that I didn’t want to be the one who told this little trusting girl what her life was really like today. She was content and happy in this “her” fantastic reality, and I mentally swore to myself that I would never and never be the one who would destroy this fairy-tale world of hers. I just couldn’t understand how my grandmother explained the sudden disappearance of her entire family and, in general, everything in which she was now living?..
“You see,” I said with a slight hesitation, smiling, “where I live, dragons are not very popular...
- So no one will see him! – the little girl chirped cheerfully.
A weight had just been lifted off my shoulders!.. I hated lying or trying to get out, and especially in front of such a pure little person as Stella was. It turned out that she understood everything perfectly and somehow managed to combine the joy of creation and the sadness of losing her family.
– And I finally found a friend here! – the little girl declared victoriously.
- Oh, well?.. Will you ever introduce me to him? – I was surprised.
She nodded her fluffy red head amusingly and squinted slyly.
- Do you want it right now? – I felt that she was literally “fidgeting” in place, unable to contain her impatience any longer.
– Are you sure that he will want to come? – I was wary.
Not because I was afraid or embarrassed of anyone, I just didn’t have the habit of bothering people without a particularly important reason, and I wasn’t sure that right now this reason was serious... But Stella was apparently into it I’m absolutely sure, because literally after a split second a man appeared next to us.
It was a very sad knight... Yes, yes, exactly a knight!.. And I was very surprised that even in this “other” world, where he could “put on” any energy “clothes”, he still did not parted with his stern knightly guise, in which he still, apparently, remembered himself very well... And for some reason I thought that he must have had some very serious reasons for this, if even after so many years he I didn’t want to part with this look.

(80 years old)

Encyclopedic YouTube

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Anatole France's father was the owner of a bookstore that specialized in literature dedicated to the history of the Great French Revolution. Anatole France barely graduated from the Jesuit college, where he studied extremely reluctantly, and, having failed the final exams several times, he passed them only at the age of 20.
Since 1866, Anatole France was forced to earn his own living, and began his career as a bibliographer. Gradually he becomes acquainted with the literary life of that time, and becomes one of the notable participants in the Parnassian school.
Anatole France died in 1924. After his death, his brain was examined by French anatomists, who, in particular, found that its mass was 1017 g. He was buried in the cemetery in Neuilly-sur-Seine.

Social activity

In 1898, France took an active part in the Dreyfus affair. Under the influence of Marcel Proust, France was the first to sign Emile Zola's famous manifesto letter.
From these times, France became a prominent figure in the reformist and later socialist camps, took part in the establishment of public universities, gave lectures to workers, and participated in rallies organized by leftist forces. France becomes a close friend of the socialist leader Jean Jaurès and the literary master of the French Socialist Party.

Creation

Early creativity

The novel that brought him fame is The Crime of Sylvester Bonnard. (French) Russian, published in 1881, is a satire that privileges frivolity and kindness over stern virtue.
In France's subsequent novels and stories, the spirit of different historical eras was recreated with enormous erudition and subtle psychological insight. "Queen's Hound's Feet" (French) Russian(1893) - a satirical story in the style of the 18th century, with the original central figure of Abbot Jerome Coignard: he is pious, but leads a sinful life and justifies his “falls” by the fact that they strengthen the spirit of humility in him. France brings out the same abbot in “The Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard” (“Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard”, 1893).
In a number of stories, in particular, in the collection “Mother-of-Pearl Casket” (French) Russian(1892), France discovers a vivid fantasy; his favorite theme is the juxtaposition of pagan and Christian worldviews in stories from the first centuries of Christianity or the early Renaissance. The best examples of this kind are “Saint Satyr”. In this he had a certain influence on Dmitry Merezhkovsky. Novel "Thais" (French) Russian(1890) - the story of a famous ancient courtesan who became a saint - is written in the same spirit of a mixture of Epicureanism and Christian charity.

Characteristics of worldview from the Brockhaus and Efron encyclopedia

France is a philosopher and poet. His worldview boils down to refined Epicureanism. He is the sharpest of the French critics of modern reality, without any sentimentality revealing the weaknesses and moral failings of human nature, the imperfection and ugliness of social life, morals, and relationships between people; but in his criticism he brings a special reconciliation, philosophical contemplation and serenity, a warming feeling of love for weak humanity. He does not judge or moralize, but only penetrates into the meaning of negative phenomena. This combination of irony with love for people, with an artistic understanding of beauty in all manifestations of life is a characteristic feature of France's works. France's humor lies in the fact that his hero applies the same method to the study of the most heterogeneous phenomena. The same historical criterion by which he judges events in ancient Egypt serves him to judge the Dreyfus affair and its impact on society; the same analytical method with which he approaches abstract scientific questions helps him explain the act of his wife who cheated on him and, having understood it, calmly leave, without condemning, but without forgiving.

Quotes

“Religions, like chameleons, take on the color of the soil in which they live.”
“There is no magic stronger than the magic of words.”
"Chance is a pseudonym for God when he does not want to sign his own name"

Essays

Modern history (L'Histoire contemporaine)
- Under the city elms (L’Orme du mail, 1897).
- Willow mannequin (Le Mannequin d'osier, 1897).
- Amethyst ring (L’Anneau d’améthyste, 1899).
- Monsieur Bergeret in Paris (Monsieur Bergeret à Paris, 1901).
Autobiographical cycle
- My Friend's Book (Le Livre de mon ami, 1885).
- Pierre Nozière (1899).
- Little Pierre (Le Petit Pierre, 1918).
- Life in Bloom (La Vie en fleur, 1922).
Novels
- Jocaste (Jocaste, 1879).
- “The Skinny Cat” (Le Chat maigre, 1879).
- The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard (Le Crime de Sylvestre Bonnard, 1881).
- The Passion of Jean Servien (Les Désirs de Jean Servien, 1882).
- Count Abel (Abeille, conte, 1883).
- Thaïs (1890).
- The Tavern of Queen Goosefoot (La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque, 1892).
- Judgments of M. Jérôme Coignard (Les Opinions de Jérôme Coignard, 1893).
- Red lily (Le Lys rouge, 1894).
- Epicurus' Garden (Le Jardin d'Épicure, 1895).
- Theater history (Histoires comiques, 1903).
- On a white stone (Sur la pierre blanche, 1905).
- Penguin Island (L’Île des Pingouins, 1908).
- The gods thirst (Les dieux ont soif, 1912).
- The Revolt of the Angels (La Révolte des anges, 1914).
Collections of short stories
- Balthasar (1889).
- Mother-of-pearl casket (L’Étui de nacre, 1892).
- The Well of Saint Clare (Le Puits de Sainte Claire, 1895).
- Clio (Clio, 1900).
- The Procurator of Judea (Le Procurateur de Judée, 1902).
- Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and many other useful stories (L’Affaire Crainquebille, 1901).
- Stories of Jacques Tournebroche (Les Contes de Jacques Tournebroche, 1908).
- The Seven Wives of Bluebeard (Les Sept Femmes de Barbe bleue et autres contes merveilleux, 1909).
Dramaturgy
- What the devil is not joking (Au petit bonheur, un acte, 1898).
- Crainquebille, pièce, 1903.
- The Willow Mannequin (Le Mannequin d’osier, comédie, 1908).
- Comedy about a man who married a mute (La Comédie de celui qui épousa une femme muette, deux actes, 1908).
Essay
- The Life of Joan of Arc (Vie de Jeanne d'Arc, 1908).
- Literary life (Critique littéraire).
- The Latin Genius (Le Génie latin, 1913).
Poetry
- Golden Poems (Poèmes dorés, 1873).
- Corinthian wedding (Les Noces corinthiennes, 1876).
Publication of works in Russian translation
- France A. Collected Works in eight volumes. - M.: State Publishing House of Fiction, 1957-1960.
- France A. Collected works in four volumes. - M.: Fiction, 1983-1984.
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