I am a literary giant in Russia

Chapter 180 The Declaration of 1848 and Works Sent to France

In general, in 1845, it was not difficult to obtain a title in some European countries. The simplest way was undoubtedly to spend money. In countries with tight national finances, such as Austria and Spain, one could obtain a title through large loans or government bond certification. A duke title could be obtained for about 20,000 pounds, and a baron title for about 4,000 pounds.

The same applies to Britain and France, except that the costs are undoubtedly higher, and various favors must be made. Some people who want to get promoted through officialdom often need to take out loans to work, and their expenses far exceed their income.

Oh right, remember to avoid buying titles in the old France during this period, because after 1848, the old France, a revolutionary base area, once again took the lead. The first thing it did after the revolution succeeded was to abolish all the privileges of the nobility in law.

Ultimately, however, for those who truly want to advance, the title itself is not important; what matters is the power and authority it carries. I wonder what the general thinks about this.
Mikhail didn't think about this question for long, as all sorts of things came one after another, and Mikhail was far from idle. The first person to approach Mikhail was the rather excited and agitated Nekrasov:
"Mikhail, let me get straight to the point. When can you produce the Russian version of 'Around the World in Eighty Days'?"

To be honest, ever since Turgenev returned to St. Petersburg with a bunch of stuff, I've spent money to publish your news in various St. Petersburg newspapers. Now, countless new readers are writing to our magazine, saying they'll definitely subscribe if we can serialize this novel that's a huge hit in Paris.

The readers we lost before are nothing compared to this current wave of popularity! Conservatively speaking, our magazine's subscribers will reach over four thousand, which is almost double the current number of "Chronicle of the Motherland"! I bet Mr. Krajevsky would faint with anger if he knew this news.

Oh, by the way, your novel is being serialized daily in Paris, right? Well, in Russia, there's no rush at all; we can serialize it for a whole year!

Mikhail: “?”

What do you mean by saying that there's absolutely no need to rush in Russia?

Are you treating Russians like Poles?
Nekrasov, you're getting more and more of a business mind!
Mikhail was not too keen on Nekrasov's suggestion, since if the serialization was too slow, readers' resentment would often be directed at him.

While telling Nekrasov that he would do so as soon as possible, Mikhail also asked Nekrasov to help contact a British publisher. Although his manuscript was still being prepared, it was necessary to make contact and understand the specific situation first. Otherwise, how could he easily succeed if he just submitted it casually?

Even later, Arthur Conan Doyle's work was rejected several times before it was finally published, and it caused a huge sensation shortly after its publication. So, in today's context, the so-called detective novel would undoubtedly be a very bold attempt, and I doubt many British publishers would dare to try it.

In this situation, making connections and establishing relationships in advance can undoubtedly make many things go more smoothly. By now, Mikhail is certainly somewhat famous, and being somewhat famous certainly comes with its own set of tactics.

Furthermore, the Russian and British literary circles were not completely isolated during this period. As early as the early 1940s, the Russian magazine "Chronicle of the Fatherland" had already serialized parts of Dickens' "The Pickwick Papers." After all, as a leading figure in British literature at that time, Dickens was quite influential; otherwise, his work wouldn't have been pirated in the United States so soon after its publication.

In other words, the novels Mikhail has put forward will probably be pirated sooner or later, which would be a unique way for him to build a reputation in the United States.

It is also worth mentioning that American literature at this time was in its early stages. Thanks to the efforts of Washington Irving, who is widely regarded as the "father of American literature," his masterpiece, "The Travelers' Notebooks," pioneered the tradition of American short stories. Works such as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," with their romantic style and local themes, brought American literature international acclaim for the first time.

One noteworthy figure in American literature at this stage is Edgar Allan Poe, who influenced many writers in later generations. A slightly more influential figure is Harriet Beecher Stowe, whom Lincoln called "the little woman who started the war." Her 1851 novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," had a tremendous impact.

When Mikhail involuntarily thought of these things, Nekrasov, who was in front of him, was taken aback upon hearing the news, and then looked at Mikhail with a strange expression.

Contacting British publishers? What is Mikhail up to now?
After thinking for a moment, Nekrasov decided to stop thinking about it. Nekrasov and his group had always known that Mikhail had a lot of ideas about him. After all, when the guys chatted and bragged, they would always talk about literature, philosophy, novels and poetry. And when they talked about these topics, they could always hear something new from Mikhail.

In this situation, it wouldn't be surprising if Mikhail came up with something new, but Mikhail, are you trying so hard to kill us?
If Mikhail knew Nekrasov's thoughts, he would only say that if he didn't try harder, he might really die.
Of course, in this case, Mikhail plans to wait until he has spent a few months in England and has reread a large amount of material before making any further plans.

After all, novels like "Around the World in Eighty Days" can be dealt with using science fiction and historical data, but the role of a detective in London really requires some on-site research.

Furthermore, since everyone will be going to Europe, Mikhail can indeed make a detour to Brussels to witness the reorganization of the League of Justice and the birth of the declaration that shook the whole of Europe. That will be an important starting point for another magnificent story.

Returning to the present, Nekrasov nodded immediately upon hearing Mikhail's request. Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly shook his head with some regret and said, "Actually, the fastest way is definitely to go directly to Mr. Krajevsky. He does have extensive connections in this area, but he's too angry to help us with this right now."

"There's no rush, we can take it slow."

Two days after giving Nekrasov his answer, Mikhail happened to run into Krajevsky, the owner of "Chronicle of the Fatherland," on his way to school. Although the two magazines were not on good terms, Mikhail, who was in a better position, was in a good mood and immediately raised his hand to greet the well-dressed Krajevsky.

Upon encountering Mikhail, Krajevsky, who had just been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Turgenev a few days prior, was filled with mixed emotions. On one hand, the fact that Mikhail was increasingly becoming a prominent figure in St. Petersburg's cultural circles made him involuntarily want to smile and respond to the man's greeting. On the other hand, Krajevsky kept reminding himself that this man was the nemesis of "Chronicles of the Fatherland." Fortunately, after a brief clash between the two underlying codes, the latter prevailed. Krajevsky decisively gave a cold snort and replied, "What important business are you on your way to now? And what benefits are you going to snatch from someone this time?"

"I'm on my way to school."

Mikhail pointed to his school uniform and said honestly.

Krajevsky: "."

Damn it! How come I always forget about this!
Just as the two men, who had just exchanged glances, were walking away, Mikhail, who knew very well that Krajevsky had used various tactics against him and in "The Contemporary," said to Dmitry beside him, "Actually, I have a dream. I want to serialize a novel in 'Chronicles of the Fatherland.'"

Krajevsky, who paused immediately upon hearing the voice, asked, "?"

really?
I'd give you another chance, that's not out of the question.
Unfortunately, by the time Krajevsky hurriedly turned his head, Mikhail had already disappeared around the corner.
As for his studies, based on the current progress, Mikhail should graduate before this summer.

If he were a normal college student, he would probably be thinking about how to get into a government agency and secure a government job by now. But that's not the path Mikhail is going to take right now. After all, he has so much to do that he'll never be able to stop working.

Besides, what's the use of being a minor civil servant? It can't save either yourself or Russia.

Mikhail's mother and sister were already aware of his decision. Although they had been angry and uneasy about the criticisms and insults directed at him in the newspapers, and Mikhail's mother, Prikhlya, felt a little disappointed, they still chose to support him unconditionally.

Although they desperately wanted Mikhail to live a peaceful, stable, and happy life, what happiness truly is is ultimately Mikhail's choice. And now, it seems quite clear what Mikhail has chosen.

Speaking of school, to be honest, Mikhail has been having a headache lately. Ever since the events in Paris, Mikhail feels that his classmates and his own situation at school have become increasingly heated.

If some students had some reservations about gathering around Mikhail before, they are now really not avoiding people, especially in the first few days when Mikhail felt like he was almost carried to a parade by them.

However, in the end, it was the strict and fierce supervisor Alexei who appeared and dismissed the students who were too excited. When he looked seriously at Mikhail's slightly wrinkled uniform with the buttons undone, before Mikhail's heart could skip a beat and he was worried that he would be in trouble, the supervisor reached for the buttons on Mikhail's clothes in the next second.
Mikhail: “???”

That's a bit too ambiguous.
Fortunately, Mikhail intervened in time and completed the task. The school supervisor, Alexei, also withdrew his hand seriously, but couldn't help nodding and saying, "Well done! Kill those Frenchmen! Let all their writers starve!"

Faced with this situation, Mikhail was genuinely curious about what Nekrasov had written in the manuscript he had paid for, although he would most likely find it very difficult to read.

While Mikhail's situation at the university is somewhat precarious, he will indeed graduate soon. The university certainly wouldn't prevent him from graduating. Firstly, Mikhail is indeed doing quite well in his studies, and he might even be able to graduate with honors. Secondly, the rector of St. Petersburg University, Pletnyov, is genuinely eager for Mikhail to graduate and leave as soon as possible.

After all, it's none of his business what Mikhail does after graduation, but what happens at school would probably leave him completely bewildered, especially since he and Mikhail actually have some financial ties.
Mikhail certainly wanted to graduate smoothly, but his connection with St. Petersburg University would probably not be severed. First, he wanted to sponsor the studies of some students as a philanthropist. Second, by 1846, Mikhail really had to consider whether to recruit General Chernyshevsky.

Perhaps we should wait a bit longer, since the old car, who has just started university, still needs to continue learning and growing.

Just as Mikhail was wrapping up some things, he had finally settled down his thoughts about Paris, and so he quickly sent some of his things to Paris.

While various things were happening on Mikhail's side, Paris was still experiencing its own events, both big and small. One of the events related to Mikhail was the publication of the standalone edition of "Around the World in Eighty Days." Because Le Soir acted very quickly, releasing the standalone edition almost when the novel was at its peak of popularity, its sales were naturally excellent, and it quickly became a bestseller in Paris.

Meanwhile, The Century was also scrambling to contact British publishers to finalize some contracts. Although piracy was rampant these days and the British were just as greedy, as long as they were quick enough, they could at least get a piece of the pie.

However, during the negotiations, the British publisher was both satisfied and somewhat dissatisfied. They were satisfied because the protagonist of the novel was British and quite well-developed, but dissatisfied with certain plot points in the novel:

"Slander! This is a blatant slander against the British Empire! Such baseless and fabricated details must be completely deleted!"

(End of this chapter)