I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 99 Prison Law These Days
"Perhaps we could work together to translate your novel Mikhail. I remember your French is quite good. Of course, finding some translators who are proficient in translation would also be a good option. We might not be able to achieve the desired effect if we were to translate it ourselves."

Turgenev, who was quite enthusiastic about the work, continued: "I don't have any connections in the upper-class literary circles there, but don't worry, in order to get your work directly in front of the most famous writers there, I will also try my best to break into the French literary circles. Just wait and see, I'll make you famous there!"

Well, pass it on: Turgenev had to betray his own... ugh! in order to help promote Mikhail's work.
Shaking his head to banish the strange thoughts from his mind, Mikhail was genuinely moved. While expressing his gratitude to Turgenev, Mikhail, not wanting Turgenev to lose face in Western European literary circles, also took the initiative to speak:

"So, Turgenev, you're going to France, right? If so, I actually have some novels written in fluent French here."

It should be noted that back then, out of interest and for research purposes, Mikhail did look at the original versions of many works, since many works always felt a bit off when separated from their original language.

Just as foreigners probably find it difficult to understand the various images and exquisite descriptions in "Dream of the Red Chamber".

However, Mikhail only managed to grapple with a portion of it back then, and it can't be said that he truly understood it. But at least he did read it, otherwise he really wouldn't remember it now.

No matter what, the original flavor is always the best.

"Mikhail, can you write novels in French?!"

Although he found the expression in fluent French a bit odd, Turgenev couldn't care less at that moment. He just looked at Mikhail and said incredulously:
"Writing a novel in French is no easy feat. I never imagined your French had reached this level, and I'm really starting to wonder what it will be like. When are you going to give me the novel? I can't wait to read it!"

Writing in a language other than one's mother tongue is not an easy task in itself, let alone Mikhail's words, which seem to suggest that he thinks his French works have reached a point where they can be read aloud to the gentlemen in the French literary circle.

You have to understand, that's the French literary scene!

In the last century or two, France has been arguably the cultural and artistic center of Europe.

Turgenev looked quite shocked, but Mikhail, seeing his reaction, didn't think there was anything wrong with him.

After all, although the French were incredibly incompetent for the next century, to the point that they were often ridiculed on the internet, with people raising both hands as a French military salute.

But in those days, France was undoubtedly still a powerful European nation. And just a few decades ago, the Russian upper class was almost a cultural vassal of France. It was only after defeating Napoleon and wandering around France that Russia regained some national confidence.

Even so, France's profound influence on Russia remains evident in various aspects to this day.

Incidentally, France has an Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his victory over the Russo-Austrian coalition in 1805. Construction was halted after Napoleon's overthrow, only resuming after the fall of the Bourbon dynasty and finally completed in 1836. Russia, too, has a similar story. In 1814, to celebrate the return of Russian soldiers from their campaign against Napoleon in Western Europe, Muscovites erected a wooden triumphal arch at the Tver Pass. This wooden arch later rotted away, and after several revisions, an identical replica was finally built on Kutuzovsky Prospekt in 1968.

This was accompanied, of course, by another joke related to France: "Many countries have passed in front of the Arc de Triomphe in France, but the Arc de Triomphe in Moscow is an exception."

So, back to the present, France is still a formidable force, and as for literature, France was quite brilliant in the 19th century.

In the year 1845, Victor Hugo was about to be made a hereditary nobleman by Louis Philippe and become a member of the House of Nobles. However, soon after, he gradually moved toward a republican stance and began to work tirelessly for freedom and democracy.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Dumas, the French literary giant who later became known as the Dumas père, was continuing to write his groundbreaking novel, *The Count of Monte Cristo*, that same year.

Of course, like many writers of this century, revolution was Alexandre Dumas's main occupation, and writing was just a hobby.

As for Honoré de Balzac, who was heavily in debt, although he had already written "The Human Comedy," which was enough to make him immortal in the history of French literature, he was still drinking coffee and writing manuscripts to pay off his debts because of his extravagant spending habits.

Even after his death, he still left behind a debt of 210,000 francs. To this, Mikhail could only say, "Dude, you really know how to spend money!"
That same year, Gustave Flaubert had just begun trying his hand at writing novels, while Guy de Maupassant's parents might not even know him now.

In short, France undoubtedly still maintained a certain cultural advantage in those days. In the eyes of "Western Europeans" like Turgenev, France's status was probably even more sacred. That's why he reacted that way when he learned that Mikhail was writing a novel in French.

Mikhail simply waved his hand modestly in response: "I'm just trying to write something. I know a little bit about it. I'll give it to you in a couple of days. If you think it's good, you can submit it to Paris for me."

"I see."

Seeing that Mikhail seemed genuinely interested in submitting his work, Turgenev nodded in agreement, but unconsciously shook his head slightly in his heart.

In Turgenev's view, Mikhail's short stories were certainly good, but if they were written in another language, they might not have the same effect, especially in front of those arrogant Frenchmen, where they would probably be subject to even more rigorous scrutiny.

Of course, I may have these thoughts, but let's see the actual work first before making any judgments!

As Turgenev was thinking this, Mikhail couldn't help but look at Dostoevsky and Dmitry. Mikhail had just noticed that the two of them seemed to be chatting very familiarly and quite enthusiastically.

Hmm? So Demi knew Dostoevsky?
Does this mean the three of us are going to get rich together?
(End of this chapter)