Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 268 Roman Holiday! (Bonus chapter for every 1000 votes)

August in Paris is like a boiling cauldron.

The Seine River, steaming under the scorching sun, emitted a foul odor that mingled with horse manure from the streets, once again assaulting the eyes and noses of the residents.

Bankers, factory owners, senior bureaucrats, wealthy middle-class people... have long since fled this suffocating city like migratory birds.

They either went to country villas in Normandy, seaside resorts in Brittany, or to the cool lakesides of the Alps and Provence.

Those who remained, besides ordinary citizens who had no choice but to stay at their posts, were impoverished artists struggling in attics and workers sweating profusely in factories...

However, the Parisian arts scene did not completely succumb to the heat this summer.

The source of this restlessness was not an art exhibition or the premiere of a play, but rather something that originated in London and traveled across the Channel—

Lionel Sorel has stirred up an unprecedented storm in Britain!
In the Latin Quarter, Passy Quarter, Montmartre… in all the cafes where artists gather, people are whispering and discussing the news.

A critic with a goatee said with a hint of sarcasm, "Have you heard? Young Mr. Sorel has caused quite a stir in London!"
A young writer waved his copy of Le Figaro: "It's not just a commotion, it's an earthquake! Look at this—"

'Léonard Sorel's new novel, *A Study in Scarlet*, has captivated London, and the enigmatic detective Sherlock Holmes has sparked a nationwide frenzy.'

Good heavens, when have the British ever been so enthusiastic about our literature? Especially a 'detective novel'!

A poet wearing pince-nez scoffed: "Detective novels? You mean those kinds of things filled with bizarre and coincidental events, like those by Emil Gabrielo?"
How could Lionel Sorel write this? It's beneath him!

The poet's reaction was the most common reaction in Parisian cultural circles—confusion, incomprehension, and a touch of contempt.

In this era, French was the common language of the upper classes and intellectuals in continental Europe, and a symbol of culture and elegance.

Most French intellectuals did not have a strong motivation to learn "vulgar" English.

Therefore, very few French people actually read the original text of "A Study in Scarlet" in the magazine "Good Words".

Their judgment can only be based on secondhand reports from Britain and limited translated summaries.

As a result, a mainstream viewpoint quickly emerged and gained the upper hand in various columns and salon discussions:
Lionel Sorel's move was undoubtedly a compromise, or even a surrender, to money!
A senior contributor to Two Worlds Review wrote in his column:

It is well known that popular British magazines have always spared no expense in attracting readers.

Our young Mr. Sorel was so captivated by the gleaming pounds that he agreed to tailor a 'British-style' pastime for the Englishmen.

This is perhaps understandable, after all, artists also need to make a living, but it is undoubtedly regrettable—we have lost a writer who could have produced even more profound works.

The British now have an extra exciting book to discuss over tea.

Similar viewpoints abound.

Critics generally believe that Lionel abandoned his artistic pursuits for the sake of a hefty royalties, opting instead to create a popular novel that catered to the masses.

After all, "detective novels" are all about suspense and sensory stimulation, so how can they care about profound expression?

They believed that Lionel was beginning to waste his talent and might slip into becoming another Alexandre Dumas.

Of course, there were dissenting voices, but they were so faint that they were almost drowned out.

A few French commentators or scholars fluent in English expressed drastically different views in private conversations.

At a party, a professor from the Sorbonne University passionately retorted: "You are wrong, completely wrong!"

I have carefully read the first two installments of A Study in Scarlet, and it is by no means just a vulgar work that stimulates the senses!
This 'Sherlock Holmes' 'deductive method' is full of scientific rationality.

Lionel's depiction of London society is meticulous, and his narrative structure and character development far surpass those of a typical detective story. This is also a masterpiece, a work that redefines the detective novel genre!

However, such voices are often seen as exaggerated and have failed to reverse the bias in mainstream public opinion.

Maupassant, Zola, and others who had seen the manuscript maintained an unusual silence at Lionel's special request.

Even when pressed by reporters, they remained tight-lipped, only vaguely stating that "Leon has his own considerations."

But this cryptic attitude only fueled the curiosity of outsiders.

What kind of novel did Lionel write that made Zola choose to remain silent about it?

The reader's emotions are more direct.

Whether it was the middle-class ladies and young women deeply moved by "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buton," or the ordinary citizens sighing over "Old Man Milon" and "Hometown" in the tavern...

Upon learning that Lionel had a new work but could only read it in England, they all felt a strange sense of loss and urgency.

"Why do we have to wait until the British have all read it before we can see Lionel's new story?"

The editorial department of Le Petit Parisien received many letters from readers expressing similar questions.

"We also want to see a new work by Lionel!" Such calls began to circulate among readers.

People were abuzz with discussion, feeling both somewhat dissatisfied that Lionel was "writing for the British" and eagerly anticipating seeing the work for the first time.

Everyone wants to see if it is really, as some reviews suggest, a product of the author's compromise with money.

Just as the discussion reached its peak, Le Parisien and Life Modern magazine published large advertisements on their front pages almost simultaneously:
Major trailer

The literary wonder that conquered London is coming to Paris this autumn!

Lionel Sorel’s latest work, “A Study in Scarlet,” will be serialized in this magazine starting this September!

Let's witness a true masterpiece together! Stay tuned!

Instead of calming the debate, the advertisement only intensified the atmosphere.

Supporters were overjoyed and couldn't wait; skeptics, on the other hand, were eager to start finding fault.

The entire Parisian cultural scene and readership have turned their attention to September, awaiting Lionel's final answer.

------

In Rome in August, the sun is scorching, baking the walls until they are hot, and even the stone pavement reflects a dazzling white light.

However, the heat in Rome is dry and pure, quite unlike the sweltering heat of Paris, which is mixed with the smell of decay.

If you don't absolutely have to go out in the afternoon, the temperature at other times is acceptable.

Lionel, dressed in a light linen suit and wearing a straw hat, stood on the banks of the Tiber River, gazing at the massive dome of St. Peter's Basilica on the opposite bank.

The dome's outline stood out majestically against the clear blue sky, a testament to Michelangelo's genius and a supreme symbol of the Catholic world.

A priest in a black robe beside him smiled and said, "Mr. Sorel, have you seen enough of the scenery? The Holy See awaits you!"

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