Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 455 A Triumphant Return!

November 26, 1881, New York Harbor.

The winter wind swept across the mouth of the Hudson River, carrying salty moisture; the sky was a pale leaden gray, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting shimmering shadows on the water.

The piers in Manhattan were bustling with activity, and colorful flags fluttered in the cold wind.

Another large cruise ship of the French cruise line, the "American," sat quietly at its berth, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys.

Compared to the fervor surrounding Lionel and his team's arrival, today's farewell ceremony was slightly smaller in scale, but still of a very high standard.

New York City Mayor William Grace, along with city officials and celebrities, arrived at the pier early.

Reporters remained the most active group, weaving through the crowd in search of the final news from this trip.

Émile Zola, Alphonse Daudet, Edmond de Goncourt, Lionel Sorel, Guy de Maupassant...

Nine French writers have once again become the focus of everyone's attention.

They shook hands and hugged the people seeing them off, and received their parting blessings.

Everyone's face showed the satisfaction of returning with a full load, the fatigue of days of travel, and of course, the eagerness to go home.

A Harvard professor held Zola's hand tightly: "I hope to see you again in Paris in the near future!"

A woman with tears in her eyes said to Daudet, "Your 'Little Things' warmed my childhood. Thank you!"

Several bold young women waved handkerchiefs at Maupassant: "Mr. Maupassant, don't forget the passion of New York!"

Maupassant waved in response.

The Harper Brothers representative shouted, "Mr. Sorel, have a safe voyage! And don't forget, The Sun Also Rises!"

My month-long trip to the United States, like a dramatic and unpredictable play, has finally come to a close.

The time to board the ship has arrived.

Guided by the crew, the nine writers stepped onto the gangway of the USS America.

They stood on the ship's railing, waving goodbye to the crowd on the shore one last time, before disappearing from sight.

The ship's horn sounded long and deep, drowning out all the noise, and the massive hull of the USS America began to move slowly.

The mooring lines were retracted, and the propeller churned the seawater, propelling the giant ship toward the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The crowds, buildings, waving hats and handkerchiefs on the shore gradually shrank, eventually becoming blurry outlines.

New York Harbor, the city that gave them the greatest rewards, finally disappeared beneath the sea.

My month-long tour of the United States has officially come to an end!

Back in first class, everyone gathered in the living room of Zola's room, and they all breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted off their shoulders.

Zola leaned back in his comfortable armchair and let out a long sigh: "It's over."

Daudet chimed in, "Yes, it's over."

A satisfied smile graced his face: "Moreover, the gains far exceeded my expectations!"

These words resonated with everyone, and they looked at each other and smiled.

The economic gains are real and tangible!

Eric Morton had already settled accounts with them before boarding the ship.

Through public speeches and various events alone, each of them earned no less than 12,000 US dollars in box office revenue!
At the current exchange rate, that's well over 60,000 francs!
This doesn't even include the various precious gifts they received, which almost filled the ship's hold—

Limited edition cigars, aged wines, exquisite gold and silverware, oriental silks and porcelain, and even custom-made travel trunks...

As a result, they had five times more luggage on their return trip than they had on their way there!
This huge sum of money not only completely covered their heavy losses on Panama Canal bonds and stocks, but also exceeded their wildest expectations before coming to the United States.

Of course, more importantly, there was the copyright agreement "facilitated" by Andrew Carnegie. It was not just a piece of paper, but a gateway to a gold mine!
They each signed licensing agreements with different major American publishers and received a substantial advance payment.

Of these, Lionel undoubtedly reaped the greatest rewards.

Harper Brothers Publishing signed an exclusive English-language distribution agreement for his new novel, The Sun Also Rises, with great enthusiasm and sincerity.

Moreover, the eight stories he casually recounted on the Perel on his way there were also pre-selected by the Harper brothers in a package.

Of course, the workload was quite large, so the contract only required him to complete the work before 1885.

For this lucrative contract, Harper Brothers paid Lionel a one-time advance of $20,000 in royalties!

This number left everyone speechless.

But neither Zola, Daudet, Goncourt, nor even the most outspoken Maupassant showed the slightest hint of jealousy.

They knew in their hearts that Lionel's role was irreplaceable in making the trip so successful, and they were grateful beyond words.

However, Lionel also knew that he and his group had already priced in the European cultural elites' lecture tours in the United States until at least 1900. No one else, not even themselves, could achieve such a sensational effect after that.

Besides their material gains, they also experienced a tremendous spiritual impact and reaped significant rewards.

The original mental state of French writers, especially the younger generation like Maupassant, was summarized by Lionel as: "You are the lost generation!"

The United States, with its rugged and untamed vitality, gave these cultural elites from the Old World a vivid lesson.

They witnessed a completely new way of life and way of thinking:

An undisguised pursuit of wealth, a fervent worship of industrial power, an extreme admiration for individual struggle, and an optimism that is both naive and arrogant.

Although Maupassant and others would privately ridicule American food as crude and shallow, and for crudely replacing all rules with naked monetary relationships.

But undeniably, this country showed them a different kind of burgeoning cultural spirit, completely different from the salons of Paris or the clubs of London.

Especially Maupassant, whose transformation was even somewhat "astonishing"—

Throughout his month-long journey, this writer, known for his womanizing and dissolute lifestyle, miraculously did not visit a single brothel in America!

He simply had several secret rendezvous with wealthy widows in various places, who admired his talent, and stayed out all night.

Lionel couldn't persuade him on this point, since he couldn't possibly keep this guy on his side; he could only pray that the widows were alright.

During dinner, everyone raised their glasses to celebrate the successful completion of the trip and chatted about their plans after returning to France. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

After dinner, Lionel did not participate in the impromptu salon, card games, or casual conversation, but went straight back to his luxury suite.

On the desk sat a brand-new Sorel I typewriter, which he had brought on the ship from New York.

He walked to his desk, sat down, and placed his fingers on the keyboard; it was time to get to work.

Although this cruise ship is slightly slower than the Perel, it is larger and more technologically advanced, making its voyage smoother.

More than a month of running around, socializing, giving speeches, and unexpected troubles took up almost all of his time and energy.

Now, the voyage has just begun, the sea is calm, and there is plenty of time. He needs to get into creative mode as soon as possible.

I must finish the novel "The Sun Also Rises" as soon as possible during this rare free time.

The $20,000 advance from Harper Brothers wasn't for nothing, especially considering the eight stories told on the Perel...

These writing assignments would fill almost the next two years of his creative time, and he somewhat regretted that his initial actions had been too reckless.

But there's no going back in life, so he could only roll up the manuscript on the typewriter and immerse his thoughts in the Paris of the "Lost Generation."

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During the following days of the flight, Lionel spent the rest of his time writing novels in his cabin, except when he appeared in the restaurant at mealtimes.

This led to a deep sense of disappointment among the other passengers on the "America" ​​cruise ship, and even among the captain and crew.

The Perel became famous, almost a literary legend, because of the eight stories Lionel told on the voyage.

Upon returning to France, the cruise company began refurbishing the Perel; and tickets for the Perel for the next six months were already sold out.

The passengers who boarded the USS America, along with the captain and crew, all harbored a sense of anticipation—

We look forward to this amazing French writer opening his "treasure box of stories" again on this ship, so that the "American" can also be remembered in literary history.

During dinner, someone subtly inquired about the matter, and the captain also hinted in his toast that he hoped Mr. Sorel could once again illuminate this transoceanic voyage with his stories.

The pianist on the USS America even wore his most formal attire to toast Lionel.

He had already heard that the lucky bastard on the Perel was now making more than 500 francs a month!

Unfortunately, their wish was not fulfilled.

Lionel remained unmoved by all the flattery and hints, like an emotionless typing machine, finishing his meal, wiping his mouth, and disappearing back into his room.

As a result, even Zola and Maupassant were deeply moved, reducing their time spent in the recreation room and starting to huddle at their desks to write.

They needed to write down their observations and feelings from this trip to the United States as soon as possible; a whole bunch of newspapers in Paris were eagerly awaiting their work.

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While Lionel and his companions were still tossed about at sea, the poster for "Café" was officially posted at the entrance of the Comédie-Française!

The audience in Paris was excited once again—

Six months ago, they were just shocked by the unethical plot of "Thunderstorm," and now they can see Sorel's new play.

Unsurprisingly, long queues formed again at the comedy theater's ticket windows.

(That concludes today's two updates. Please vote with your monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)