1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 621 The 'Great Wall' of the Publishing Industry

At the beginning of the new year, Lin Weimin ignited the Guowen Society again.

In the past few days, the most vicious topic of discussion in the Guowen Society is naturally the "World Literary Masterpiece Library".

"World Literary Classics Library", just hearing the name is scary enough.

In the society, there are those who are in favor, and there are also those who are against. Everyone expresses their opinions in private, and the discussion is endless.

There are several reasons for those who oppose it. One is that this action wastes money and people, the other is that it may not have economic benefits, and the third is that it is suspected of being too big.

The reasons for those who are in favor are also very aboveboard. Other major countries in the world, especially developed countries, have their own world library, but China does not; the world library can help domestic people understand world literature, which is the duty-bound responsibility of the Guowen Society; If the "World Literary Masterpiece Library" can really be published, it will become an unprecedented feat in the history of Chinese publishing, and the Guowen Society and even every editor who participated in the editing and review will be famous in history.

When everyone in the club was arguing and arguing endlessly, Lin Weimin welcomed several guests into his office.

Jiang Lu, Lu Yuan, and Wen Jieruo are all senior editors and reviewers of the Guowen Society, and they are also great translators of foreign literature. They each have other identities, such as writers and poets. He is a veteran and highly respected.

A few days after the editorial meeting, news about the "World Literary Classics Library" was circulating in the agency. Although several people have retired, they will still participate in the work of the agency in terms of business, and they still have the title of consultant.

The three of them approached Lin Weimin's office, mainly to express their support for Lin Weimin's plan to publish the "World Literary Masterpiece Library".

The older generation of publishers has exceptional idealism and enthusiasm.

Publishing the "World Literary Masterpiece Library" is not only a major event for the Guowen Society, but also for the domestic publishing and literary circles. They actually had this idea long ago, but the Guowen Society simply did not have the strength to undertake such a large project a few years ago.

Jiang Lu was talking, and handed Lin Weimin a large stack of materials. He opened it and found that it was the bibliography of "World Library" published by Britain, the United States, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Nihong and other countries. He specially wrote comments on the advantages and disadvantages of the bibliographies of library libraries in various countries.

Looking at these materials, Lin Weimin was filled with emotion.

Nowadays, there is no Internet, and domestic information is relatively blocked. Jiang Lu was able to collect so many materials from foreign libraries and write about their advantages and disadvantages one by one. detailed.

But the problem is, before Lin Weimin, no one in the Guowen Society had ever mentioned the concept of "World Library".

The materials collected by Jiang Lu are entirely out of his ideal and enthusiasm as an editor.

Jiang Lu said: "Some of these materials are accumulated by my work over the years, and some of them came on a whim a few years ago, thinking that if the agency really wants to publish a series of books like Seven Star Library, it may come in handy. "

"Mr. Jiang, your materials... are so precious, how many detours have to be saved for us!" Lin Weimin said gratefully.

"It's good if it comes in handy. We old fellows support you from the bottom of our hearts when you start this "World Literature Classics Library", and we will definitely support your work with all our strength."

Lin Weimin's face was full of emotion, "I am very grateful to the teachers. With your help, this matter will definitely be a success."

After the excitement, Lin Weimin discussed the details of libraries in various countries with several people, striving to extract the essence and discard the dross.

Finally, after some discussions, everyone generally believes that in the past, the "World Library" of various countries emphasized the West over the East, and emphasized their own countries over other countries. Many libraries lacked the true meaning of the word "World".

Therefore, in the process of compiling and reviewing the "World Literary Masterpieces Library", the Guowen Society must stand at the height of the history of world literature development and restore the true colors of world literature history without any prejudice.

Lin Weimin finally concluded: "We should be impartial, neither belittle ourselves nor arrogant, and use the spirit of seeking truth from facts to include important literary works from various countries and periods in the "World Literary Masterpiece Library". That is the gist and true meaning of "World Library."

"It's good to say for the people."

"If you can have this kind of consciousness, we can rest assured!"

After listening to Lin Weimin's thoughts, several old comrades were full of smiles on their faces. With such a high level of thinking and mentality, why worry about the failure of "World Literature Classics Library"?
"World Literary Masterpieces Library" is destined to focus on world literature. Jiang, Lu, and Wen are great translators and highly respected seniors in the literary circles inside and outside the agency. They are still in charge of some translations and final review of foreign literary works. With the support of others, the pressure on Lin Weimin has also been reduced a lot.

A few days later, the purchased works from library libraries in various countries were mailed to the Guowen Society one after another.

These libraries are often counted in hundreds of volumes, which is quite expensive, and it is not easy to purchase books. Lin Weimin commissioned the International Book Trading Corporation to purchase them in the name of the Guowen Society, which made Cheng Zaochun very distressed for a few days.

But the money that should be spent must be spent. These bibliographies not only provide a basis for the planning and argumentation of the Guowen Society, but also provide a reference for the editing and review of the "World Literary Masterpiece Library".

Hundreds of volumes of original works in foreign languages ​​were constantly being moved into the front building, and the foreign language room has become the busiest place in the Chinese Literature Society these days.

The foreign language room is the main editor of the "World Literary Classics Library", and only they can understand and understand these foreign language original works.

Naturally, not all of these books will be translated. Many of the works included in the libraries of various countries have been imported and translated by the Chinese Literature Society, including some that are not suitable for the "World Literature Classics Library" and will be rejected. Therefore, the workload of the foreign language room is far less than that of everyone. See big.

Thousands of volumes of original works in foreign languages ​​have been enriched into the foreign language room. Suddenly, there is no place to walk in the office. All happy.

Although these original works in foreign languages ​​are used as a reference for the editors and reviewers of the "World Literary Classics Library", the benefits of the foreign language room are also real. These books will become the nourishment of the editors of the foreign language room.

Not only the foreign language department, but also many colleagues from other editing offices came to borrow these books.

Those who can enter the Chinese Literature Club are all college students. Other languages ​​are not good, but English is no problem, so the library works of the British and American countries are the most borrowed.

The foreign language room was harassed for several days, and Chen Jiangen couldn't bear it anymore.

Because there are too many people borrowing books, the foreign language department didn't pay attention at first, but after a few days, it was discovered that the entire library was almost empty. How can it carry out work?
Chen Jiangen hurriedly asked people to return the books. Books are easy to borrow. If it is really difficult to return them, everyone has only read them for a day or two, and the foreign language department is urging to return the books, which immediately arouses the ambiguity of many colleagues.

Chen Jiangen had no choice but to send these original foreign language works to the editor-in-chief's office, and the foreign language office would come and get them if needed.

In this way, everyone will not dare to be so rampant.

As the catalogs of libraries in various countries have been purchased one after another, the argument for the project "Literary Masterpieces of World Literature" has also been put on the table.

As the editor-in-chief of the Guowen Society, Lin Weimin did his part to hang up the banner of commander-in-chief. He also invited many respected old editors who are still alive in the society, such as Tu An, Yan Wenjing, Meng Weizai, Qin Chaoyang, Lvyuan, Jiang Lu, Wang Yangchen...

Many famous experts gathered together to offer advice and suggestions for the demonstration of "World Literature Masterpiece Library", and several old comrades even volunteered to participate in the planning and editing work in person.

The establishment of the "World Literary Masterpieces Library" can be regarded as the most important project of the Guowen Society in the past ten years. The last time there was such momentum was in 1981 when the Guowen Society mobilized the entire society to reedit "The Complete Works of Lu Xun".

Even Balao's anthology does not have this scale and momentum.

It took more than half a month for Lin Weimin to gradually smooth out the project division of "World Literary Classics Library", and the progress of the demonstration was also rapid due to the participation of many seniors and famous experts.

After repeated arguments, many seniors and experts gradually reached a consensus.

It is entirely feasible for the Guowen Society to publish the "World Literary Masterpiece Library". This series of books fills the gap in the domestic publishing industry in the world library, and it also has great political significance and social benefits.

As for the economic benefits that many people are worried about, the seniors didn’t even mention it. We are all revolutionaries who have emerged from the sea of ​​swords and flames. Compared with the political significance and social benefits displayed by the library, what is the economic benefit? Is there still no awareness?
On the day when the proof documents were released, Lin Weimin organized a dinner party and dragged a group of elderly people to Donglaishun.

No one would miss his mutton, but the joyful and happy atmosphere of the banquet made many seniors couldn't help recalling those days when they struggled in the Guowen Society.

The seniors remembered bitterness and thought sweetness, and Lin Weimin waited on the sidelines, which fully reflected the respect for the seniors and made this group of people happy.

"It's great for the people!"

"Yeah, I've seen him as a good seed since he joined the club."

"How old is this? It's the editor-in-chief. Mr. Tu was older than him when he was the editor-in-chief, right?"

"Can it be compared like this? Let alone our Guowen Society, looking at China's publishing industry, it can be regarded as the only one for the people. With outstanding ability, professionalism, and talent, such a young man becomes the chief editor. We old guys Only then can you rest assured."

These seniors are in a good mood today, and they praised Lin Weimin like a flower.

As the banquet came to an end, several former presidents and editor-in-chiefs sent a few more words.

Tu An: "Wei Min, the idea of ​​"World Literary Classics Library" is a good one. Now everyone has given you a good start, and it's up to you young people to come up with it!"

Yan Wenjing: "You have only been the editor-in-chief for one year, and it is a severe test for you to come up with the idea of ​​"World Literature Classics Library", and you must hand in a perfect answer to all the colleagues in the Guowen Society and the higher-level departments. "

Meng Weizai: "You grew up under the watchful eyes of everyone. The success of "World Literature Classics Library" cannot be done without the help of many colleagues in the agency. Remember, we must unite everyone, things are not done by one person .”

The Guowen Society is a cultural unit, and the official tone is not so heavy. After everyone said a few words, it was Lin Weimin's turn to express his opinion.

He raised his wine glass and solemnly said: "The project demonstration of "World Literature Classics Library" is inseparable from the help of many leaders and seniors. I am afraid that we will have to trouble everyone in the future. The editorial review of "Library" will definitely ensure quality and quantity, and complete it as quickly as possible, so that this project will become the "Great Wall" of our Chinese Literature Society and even the domestic publishing industry!"

Lin Weimin's statement was impassioned and full of confidence.

"Good!" Everyone applauded loudly, full of anticipation for the birth of "World Literature Classics Library".

(End of this chapter)