1836: I Became a Literary Giant in Great Britain

"Famous is an understatement!"

Upon hearing Michelle's words, Michael's voice rose several octaves.

"Michel, my friend! Let me put it this way, in London, if you want to make a name for yourself in the literary world, there are two paths."

"One way is to be like Charles, to write a work that becomes a national sensation like 'The Pickwick Biographies,' making you impossible for anyone to ignore."

He paused, then pointed to the elaborate invitation.

"The other way is to gain the Countess of Brexington's approval and become a guest of honor in her salon!"

Michael lowered his voice, his tone filled with mystery and longing.

"Her home, Gore House, is one of the most prestigious social venues in all of London right now. Just think about the kind of people who frequent that place."

"Members of parliament, painters, poets, and even novelists like us. Thackeray, Disraeli, Bulwer-Lytton... every name you can think of was a regular at her salon!"

"It's no exaggeration to say that if you just show your face at her salon and receive a few compliments, your name will be known throughout London's high society the next day!"

"I've been there quite a few times..."

Dickens's voice drifted out, breaking Michael's excitement.

He looked out the window, his expression somewhat unfocused.

"When 'The Pickwick Biographies' became a sensation, salons all over London wanted to invite me. I also visited Gore's mansion, which was indeed very... magnificent."

He seemed to be carefully choosing his words.

"The Countess was elegant and beautiful, and very good at entertaining guests, and Count de Orsay was also very interesting. But... I always felt a little restrained there."

At this point, Dickens sighed softly.

Everything there was sparkly and glittering; everyone was impeccably dressed and spoke with elegance. Yet, he couldn't help but think back to his childhood days in the shoe polish workshop. That feeling... wasn't pleasant.

So after the initial novelty wore off, he rarely went there anymore...

Looking at Dickens's expression, Michelle could understand that feeling.

Childhood trauma can sometimes become a lifelong shadow that one can never escape, no matter how great one's achievements later in life...

Michael patted Dickens on the shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

Then he turned to Michelle and continued.

"Charles is Charles, and you are you. Anyway, Michelle, this is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"You are now well-known among the middle class and in academia, but you still lack the key to enter the top social circles."

He picked up the invitation and waved it in front of Michelle.

"Now, the key to success has come knocking on our door!"

Listening to Michael and Dickens's accounts, Michelle finally recalled the woman's life in her mind.

The Countess of Brexington, this lady's life was truly legendary.

Or rather, it could be described as inspiring.

This countess was born in Ireland into a poor family, and her original name was Margaret Ball.

Despite her impoverished background, she managed to achieve considerable success through self-study and guidance from relatives and friends.

This looks like a story of a comeback, but as expected, something unexpected is about to happen.

When Margaret was 15, her father sold her to Captain Maurice Saint-Léger Farmer. This Captain Maurice was particularly fond of drinking, and his habit after drinking was to beat his wife…

So, after only three months, Margaret couldn't take it anymore and had to run back to her parents' home.

But hiding at her parents' home all the time wasn't a good solution. Later, under the protection of Captain Thomas Jenkins, Margaret moved to London and began to engage with literary circles, paving the way for her future social connections.

In 1817, Farmer died in a drunken fall from the King's Bench prison in London; it just goes to show that domestic abusers never get what they deserve... Margaret finally regained her freedom...

The year after her husband's death, she married Charles John Gardner (the first Earl of Brexington) and became a countess.

The count and countess were both avid travelers, and while traveling through Italy and France, they met Byron in Genoa.

Yes, it's Lord Byron, the "King of London" who wrote *Don Juan*...

This relationship also became the source material for her later famous work, "Conversations with Lord Byron".

It's fair to say that this countess is quite adept at riding the wave of popularity...

Among his companions at the time was the young Earl Alfred de Orsay. He was also a heavyweight...

He later married the Earl's stepdaughter and developed a public and intimate relationship with Lady Blythington, which sparked a huge scandal.

This is a unique case of "attracting both mother and daughter"...

Later, at 11 St. James's Square in London, the Countess began to try her hand at running her salon business...

Soon, her beauty and wit attracted a large number of politicians, writers, and artists, who all called her "the most glamorous Mrs. Blythington." In 1821, a portrait of her painted by Thomas Lawrence was exhibited at the Royal Academy, causing a sensation in London.

Unfortunately, happy days are always short-lived. The Count died in 1829, leaving behind only debts and a very limited annuity. She was completely free, but also began to run out of money, so she started to support her luxurious life through writing and salons.

It can be said that today, the Countess of Bresington's literary salon is one of the most prestigious literary social circles in London!

Of course, this countess's ending was not good either...

Twelve years later, her debt problems finally came to a head... Even though she cut back on spending and sold off her collection, it was all to no avail... In the end, her house was seized and auctioned off... She herself died after going to Paris to seek refuge with Count Alfred de Orsay...

He built a tall building, entertained guests, and then the building collapsed...

Michelle looked at the invitation letter, feeling a mix of emotions.

He never imagined that he would touch the core circle of this era in this way.

From a poor student who couldn't afford rent to a writer who could share a room with literary giants and political celebrities, it all happened so fast that it felt unreal.

This is not just a social event, but a signal.

He has made it impossible for the London literary world, and even the entire upper class, to ignore him with his works.

"To go, or not to go?"

Michael looked at him with expectant eyes.

Michelle picked up the invitation, her fingertips tracing the exquisite gold foil patterns.

He looked up, met the gazes of his two friends, and slowly nodded.

"Of course I'll go!"

Once the decision was made, the atmosphere in the living room immediately became much more relaxed.

But what follows are some very real problems.

"So here's the question,"

Michelle waved the invitation in her hand, a wry smile on her face.

"What should I wear to a salon of this caliber?"

When the question was posed, both Michael and Dickens fell silent.

They subconsciously glanced at Michelle's current attire.

Although it was clean and tidy, if I wore this to the Gore Mansion, I probably wouldn't even be able to get through the door; the doorman would probably mistake me for a deliveryman and stop me.

"Looks like you need to get a new outfit made."

Michael stroked his chin and said in a serious tone.

"The tailor shop on Savile Row, today! A decent evening gown, a top hat, a pair of polished shoes, a cane and white gloves... none of these are missing."

As Michelle listened to the long list, she felt her wallet groan in pain.

Although his recent substantial royalties have lifted him out of abject poverty, he only has enough money to maintain a decent standard of living, far from being wealthy.

A bespoke suit on Savile Row cost him a fortune, enough to keep him eating black bread for the next month.

Money is not a problem!

Michael noticed his embarrassment and waved his hand generously.

"The London Express will cover this expense for you in advance; consider it an advance on your payment!"

"After all, you're now the face of our newspaper!"

Seeing Michael acting like an "image consultant," Michelle was both amused and exasperated.

However, he also understood that this money had to be spent.

In London's social circles, one's attire is a calling card.

Your social class is reflected in your clothing...

He couldn't let his shabby attire embarrass himself and the countess who had invited him.

"Thank you, Michael."

Michelle thanked him sincerely.

This seemingly materialistic editor-in-chief always provided him with the most practical help at crucial moments.

"Don't just think about the clothes."

Dickens offered a reminder from the side.

"More importantly, you need to figure out what to say and who to talk to when you get there. The interpersonal relationships in Gore's mansion are far more complicated than any novel plot."

He shared some of his own experiences.

"Don't take sides easily, listen more and talk less. Some people will approach you because they appreciate your talent, while others just want to use you as a source of bragging rights."

"And then there are those who want to use you as a stepping stone to fame..."

"Therefore, the first thing to do upon entering the salon is to learn to distinguish between goodwill and malice..."

Dickens' words immediately calmed Michel down.

He realized that it was not just a lavish banquet, but a turbulent arena of fame and fortune.

We must be extremely vigilant in dealing with this!

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