1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 697: An old friend of the American people

The New York Times is a daily newspaper that has been in existence for more than 140 years. It has long become a representative of serious publications in the United States. Its sales volume ranks among the top ten newspapers in the United States all year round. It has a huge influence, especially among intellectuals, politicians, and people in the literary and artistic circles. popular.

The content of the interview was communicated in advance, and the process went smoothly, and it appeared in the "New York Times" on November 11 after a day's interval.

The next day was the press conference of "Richard Yates Anthology". FSG Publishing House has a lot of face, "American Literature", "Paris Review of Books", "Paris Review", "Washington Post" and many other famous American literary magazines, Editors and journalists from review magazines and newspapers were in attendance.

In addition to these guests, several former friends of Richard Yates, Kurt Vonnegut, Raymond Carver and others attended the press conference.

Kurt Vonnegut was a little emotional when he saw Lin Weimin. He was not only a friend of Richard Yates during his lifetime, but also a staunch defender of Richard Yates' literary achievements.

"Lin, I read your interview in the New York Times, thank you, thank you for everything you do for Richard!"

Kurt Vonnegut, who was over seventy years old, held Lin Weimin's hand tightly and said.

"Mr. Vonnegut, there is a saying in China that is called being entrusted by others and being loyal to others. Richard is an excellent writer. I think his talent and works should not be buried."

"It's like this, it's like this, you did something I always wanted to do but couldn't."

A book press conference is different from a movie press conference, which is so colorful. People from the cultural and literary circles are present. And because the author has passed away, the atmosphere of today's press conference is particularly solemn.

Roger Strauss, as a representative of the publishing house, introduced the literary achievements of Richard Yates and the reasons why FSG Publishing House published "The Collected Works of Richard Yates". Chad Yates contacts.

This is of course a deliberately set topic. Since the beginning of this year, the friendship between Lin Weimin and Richard Yates has gradually spread among the American literary circles through FSG's publicity channels.

The order of Lin Weimin's speeches came after Roger Strauss, and through Roger Strauss' words, it was clear to everyone present that Lin Weimin was the driving force behind the publication of "Richard Yates Collected Works".

Yesterday's "New York Times" interview was just published, and many people present have read it, so they are more interested in the sympathy between the two, and they are looking forward to Lin Weimin's speech.

"Today is the press conference of "The Collected Works of Richard Yates", and I think Mr. Yates would be very happy if he had a spirit in heaven.

The first time I heard the name Richard Yates was when I first came to New York that year.There are many second-hand bookstores here, and for a person who likes to collect books, there is no better place than here.

In the Westside Bookstore, I found a book called "Road to Revolution".

After reading it, I like this book very much.Because this book is different from many American literary works I have read. It depicts American society that I have never seen in other works. This is a unique realistic work in the American literary world.

That's why I became interested in the name Richard Yates.

In my opinion, a writer who can write such an excellent work as "Road to Revolution" should be very famous.

I chatted with several bookstore owners and readers, and the feedback they gave me was that Richard Yates is not a well-known writer, and his works are not selling well, and even a few of his books cannot be found in second-hand bookstores. Book.

This kind of situation made me a little puzzled. Later, I read several Richard Yates novels one after another. I recognized Richard Yates’ talent more and more firmly. His talent is not inferior to Washington Irving, Great writers like Eugene O'Neill and Pearl Buck.

Two years later, I came to the United States and New York again, and I found several books by Richard Yates in second-hand bookstores.

As a writer, no one understands the poignancy of having a work appear in a second-hand bookstore better than me, and I thought I should do something about it.

I contacted Richard through Roger, hoping to introduce his works to China.

You may not know that in addition to being a writer, I was also an editor, and I was in charge of the most famous literary publication in China at the time.

The introduction of Richard Yates' works went smoothly. In a few years, his works have sold hundreds of thousands of copies in China. I know this is certainly not a very high number, but at least it is better than in the United States..."

Lin Weimin paused for a moment, and everyone in the audience laughed in good faith. Everyone knew what happened to the sales volume of Richard Yates' book in the United States.

"For several years, Mr. Yates and I have not met, but have been in correspondence. Until the middle of last year, I received a letter from Mr. Yates. In the letter, he described his illness to me and expressed his concern. I made a request to publish a collection of essays for him in China, and I agreed to his request.

In June this year, the Chinese version of "The Collected Works of Richard Yates" was published in China. "

At this point, the audience burst into applause, and everyone present was moved by Lin Weimin and Richard Yates' overthrow.

After the applause stopped, Lin Weimin continued: "When I was planning the Chinese version of "Richard Yates Anthology", I had another thought in my mind, and I always felt a little regretful.

Mr. Yates is an American, and all his works are about American society. If his anthology cannot be published in the United States, it will be a loss to the American literary circle and readers.

So, I got in touch with Roger..."

Lin Weimin and Roger Strauss looked at each other tacitly.

"Roger is a publisher with ideals and feelings. He thinks like me that Mr. Richard Yates is a buried excellent writer. We hit it off and decided to publish "Richard Yates" by FSG Press. The Collected Works of Yates."

Having said that, Lin Weimin took a deep breath, his tone sonorous.

"Richard Yates is one of the greatest writers in the history of American literature in the [-]th century. His works and literary achievements have long been ignored by American society.

Today is the first anniversary of the death of Mr. Richard Yates, and his collection of essays will be published soon.

I think it's about time we did justice to Mr. Richard Yates.

An excellent writer like him should not be buried, let alone die in solitude and obscurity. "

After Lin Weimin finished speaking impassionedly, the audience immediately aroused warm applause. They were all infected by Lin Weimin's full emotions and generous speeches.

Most of the people who can come here today recognize the level and literary achievements of Richard Yates. They heard Lin Weimin, a foreign writer, speak so highly of Richard Yates.

Reminiscent of the treatment that Richard Yates has received in the American literary world for a long time, this group of people has an inexplicable feeling of hatred and hatred in their hearts.

The applause was long and warm, and everyone put all their guilt and appreciation for Richard Yates on Lin Weimin, an enthusiastic international friend.

Kurt Vonnegut, Raymond Carver and others looked at Lin Weimin on the stage with tears in their eyes.

At this moment, they saw the rebirth of Richard Yates in Lin Weimin.

It was a lonely soul dedicated to writing reality in literature.

After a long time, the applause finally stopped.

Lin Weimin walked off the stage under everyone's admiring and admiring eyes. He was just one of today's guests, and there were several other guests who came to promote "Richard Yates Anthology", and they were all Richard A friend of Yates during his lifetime.

Under the influence of Lin Weimin, everyone was emotional when he spoke. Some people wept on the spot, sobbing that they couldn't speak, which made the atmosphere of the scene sublime again.

Infected by this atmosphere, many editors and reporters were filled with regret for Richard Yates and admiration for Lin Weimin.

A Chinese writer and an American writer, acquainted with literature and have never met each other, but they are inseparable from each other through life and death.

Which literary youth can withstand the devastation of this kind of picture!
There may be a delay in publishing articles in major newspapers and magazines, but all the literary people who attended the press conference can't wait to spread what happened at the press conference to the American literary community.

In a very short period of time, various information about Richard Yates, "Richard Yates Anthology", about Lin Weimin, and about FSG Publishing House have been widely circulated in the American literary circle.

At the same time, Lin Weimin's exclusive interview on the "New York Times", including the clip of Richard Yates mentioned in the interview in the United States a few years ago, has also attracted the attention and talk of many people in the American literary circle.

Many American media have also noticed the spread of this "great friendship" and followed suit to report.

For a time, the names of Lin Weimin and Richard Yates were closely linked like the entwining twin constellations, and they frequently appeared in the American public's sight.

Since "Farewell My Concubine" and other works were published in the United States in 83, and the play was released on Broadway to adapt the novel to the film, Lin Weimin has already cultivated a large readership base in the United States.

But his reader base and mass base are still based on his works, not his identity.

This time, Lin Weimin cooperated with FSG Publishing House and spared no effort to promote "The Collected Works of Richard Yates", which not only brought Richard Yates, a writer who has been neglected by American society for a long time, back into the public eye, but also made Lin Weimin gain a lot. The favor and recognition of countless American people.

After media propaganda, in the eyes of these people, Lin Weimin's image can already be described as brilliant and noble, and he can be called an old friend of the American people.

　There are only two changes today, my wife and child are pregnant again, and I'm fine...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)