the nabob-第4章
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b/； nor such a unique and marvellous work of art as /Numa Roumestan/； due allowance being made for the intrusion of sentimentality into the latter。 Daudet thought /Numa/ the 〃least incomplete〃 of his works； it is certainly inclusive enough； since some critics are struck by the tragic relations subsisting between the virtuous discreet Northern wife and the peccable； expansive Southern husband； while others see in the latter the hero of a comedy of manners almost worthy of Moliere。 If /Numa/ represents the highest achievement of Daudet in dramatic fiction or else in the art of characterization； /The Evangelist/ proved that his genius was not at home in those fields。 Instead of marking an ordered advance； this overwrought study of Protestant bigotry marked not so much a halt； or a retreat； as a violent swerving to one side。 Yet in a way this swerving into the devious orbit of the novel of intense purpose helped Daudet in his progress towards naturalism； and imparted something of stability to his methods of work。 /Sapho/； which appeared next； was the first of his novels that left little to be desired in the way of artistic unity and cumulative power。 If such a study of the /femme collante/； the mistress who cannot be shaken offor rather of the man whom she ruins； for it is Gaussin； not Sapho； that is the main subject of Daudet's acute analysiswas to be written at all； it had to be written with a resolute art such as Daudet applied to it。 It is not then surprising that Continental critics rank /Sapho/ as its author's greatest production； it is more in order to wonder what Daudet might not have done in this line of work had his health remained unimpaired。 The later novels； in which he came near to joining forces with the naturalists and hence to losing some of the vogue his eclecticism gave him； need not detain us。
And now； in conclusion； how can we best characterize briefly this fascinating； versatile genius； the most delightful humorist of his time； one of the most artistic story…tellers； one of the greatest novelists？ It is impossible to classify him； for he was more than a humorist； he nearly outgrew romance； he never accepted unreservedly the canons of naturalism。 He obviously does not belong to the small class of the supreme writers of fiction； for he has no consistent or at least profound philosophy of life。 He is a true poet； yet for the main he has expressed himself not in verse； but in prose； and in a form of prose that is being so extensively cultivated that its permanence is daily brought more and more into question。 What is Daudet； and what will he be to posterity？ Some admirers have already answered the first question； perhaps as satisfactorily as it can be answered； by saying； 〃Daudet is simply Daudet。〃 As for the second question； a whole school of critics is inclined to answer it and all similar queries with the curt statement； 〃That concerns posterity； not us。〃 If； however； less evasive answers are insisted upon； let the following utterance； which might conceivably be more indefinite and oracular； suffice： Alphonse Daudet is one of those rare writers who combine greatness with a charm so intimate and appealing that some of us would not； if we could； have their greatness increased。
W。 P。 TRENT。
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Alphonse Daudet was born at Nimes on the 13th of May； 1840。 He was the younger son of a rich and enthusiastically Royalist silk…manufacturer of that town； the novelist； Ernest Daudet （born 1837）； being his elder brother。 In their childhood； the father； Vincent Daudet； suffered reverses； and had to settle with his family； in reduced circumstances； at Lyons。 Alphonse； in 1856； obtained a post as usher in a school at Alais； in the Gard； where he was extremely unhappy。 All these painful early experiences are told very pathetically in 〃Le Petit Chose。〃 On the 1st of November； 1857； Alphonse fled from the horrors of his life at Alais； and joined his brother Ernest； who had just secured a post in the service of the Duc de Morny in Paris。 Alphonse determined to live by his pen； and presently obtained introductions to the 〃Figaro。〃 His early volumes of verse； 〃Les Amoureuses〃 of 1858 and 〃La Double Conversion〃 of 1861； attracted some favourable notice。 In this latter year his difficulties ceased； for he had the good fortune to become one of the secretaries of the Duc de Morny； a post which he held for four years； until the popularity of his writings rendered him independent。 To the generosity of his patron； moreover； he owed the opportunity of visiting Italy and the East。 His first novel； 〃Le Chaperon Rouge；〃 1863； was not very remarkable； and Daudet turned to the stage。 His principal dramatic efforts of this period were 〃Le Dernier Idole；〃 1862； and 〃L'OEillet Blanc；〃 1865。 Alphonse Daudet's earliest important work； however； was 〃Le Petit Chose；〃 1868； a very pathetic autobiography of the first eighteen years of his life； over which he cast a thin veil of romance。 After the death of the Duc de Morny； Daudet retired to Provence； leasing a ruined mill at Fortvielle； in the valley of the Rhone； from this romantic solitude； among the pines and green oaks； he sent forth those exquisite studies of Provencal life； the 〃Lettres de mon Moulin。〃 After the war； Daudet reappeared in Paris； greatly strengthened and ripened by his hermit… existence in the heart of Provence。 He produced one masterpiece after another。 He had studied with laughter and joy the mirthful side of southern exaggeration； and he created a figure in which its peculiar qualities should be displayed； as it were； in excelsis。 This study resulted； in 1872； in 〃The Prodigious Feats of Tartarin of Tarascon；〃 one of the most purely delightful works of humour in the French language。 Alphonse Daudet now； armed with his cahiers； his little green…backed books of notes； set out to be a great historian of French manners in the second half of the nineteenth century。 His first important novel； 〃Fromont Jeune et Risler Aine；〃 1874； enjoyed a notable success； it was followed in 1876 by 〃Jack；〃 in 1878 by 〃Le Nabob；〃 in 1879 by 〃Les Rois en Exil；〃 in 1881 by 〃Numa Roumestan；〃 in 1883 by 〃L'Evangeliste；〃 and in 1884 by 〃Sapho。〃 These are the seven great romances of modern French life on which the reputation of Alphonse Daudet as a novelist is mainly built。 They placed him； for the moment at all events； near the head of contemporary European literature。 By this time； however； a physical malady； which Charcot was the first to locate in the spinal cord； had begun to exhaust the novelist's powers。 This disease； which took the form of what was supposed to be neuralgia in 1881； racked him with pain during the sixteen remaining years of his life； and gradually destroyed his powers of locomotion。 It spared the functions of the brain； but it cannot be denied that after 1884 something of force and spontaneous charm was lacking in Daudet's books。 He continued； however； the adventures of Tartarin； first with unabated gusto in the Alps； then less happily as a colonist in the South Seas。 He wrote； in the form of a novel； a bitter satire on the French Academy； of which he was never a member； this was 〃L'Immortel〃 of 1888。 He wrote romances； of little power； the best being 〃Rose et Ninette〃 of 1892； but his imaginative work steadily declined in value。 He published in 1887 his reminiscences； 〃Trente Ans de Paris；〃 and later on his 〃Souvenirs d'un Homme de Lettres。〃 He suffered more and more from his complaint； from the insomnia it caused； and from the abuse of chloral。 He was able； however； to the last； to enjoy the summer at his country…house； at Champrosay； and even to travel in an invalid's chair； in 1896 he visited for the first time London and Oxford； and saw Mr。 George Meredith。 In Paris he had long occupied rooms in the Rue de Bellechasse； where Madame Alphonse Daudet was accustomed to entertain a brilliant company。 But in 1897 it became impossible for him to mount five flights of stairs any longer； and he moved to the first floor of No。 41 Rue de l'Universite。 Here on the 16th of December； 1897； as he was chatting gaily at the dinner…table； he uttered a cry； fell back in his chair； and was dead。 The personal appearance of Alphonse Daudet； in his prime； was very striking； he had
