A sad demise of a brilliant writer. Maupassant seemingly had no ability to control the muse that drove him to the heights of literary acclaim. Fame is neither a craft nor an art, but the acknowledgment of a special gift by those less gifted. This was an informative view and I enjoyed reading it.
Mr. Babel, in his story, transposes Maupassant's insight into empathy with humanity. When I first started reading Maupassant in college (in French), I was captivated. Two stories stay with me: "Boule de Suif" and another (I am not sure of the name) where a worker saves for months to take his family on a weekend outing. The family dons their best and the worker signs to stop the bus, yet the bus does not stop. In his factual way of rendering everyday life, Maupassant can break your heart. Read him.
I loved how down-and-out Babel was at the time, losing everything except his desire to follow his destiny, no matter where it led him. And he was not bitter about his situation. He was a man who enjoyed life.
That is the secret, of course, enjoying life and embracing the journey.
A sad demise of a brilliant writer. Maupassant seemingly had no ability to control the muse that drove him to the heights of literary acclaim. Fame is neither a craft nor an art, but the acknowledgment of a special gift by those less gifted. This was an informative view and I enjoyed reading it.
Mr. Babel, in his story, transposes Maupassant's insight into empathy with humanity. When I first started reading Maupassant in college (in French), I was captivated. Two stories stay with me: "Boule de Suif" and another (I am not sure of the name) where a worker saves for months to take his family on a weekend outing. The family dons their best and the worker signs to stop the bus, yet the bus does not stop. In his factual way of rendering everyday life, Maupassant can break your heart. Read him.
I loved how down-and-out Babel was at the time, losing everything except his desire to follow his destiny, no matter where it led him. And he was not bitter about his situation. He was a man who enjoyed life.
That is the secret, of course, enjoying life and embracing the journey.