Foreign masterpieces
(1) "Anna Karenina"
"Happy families are all similar, and unhappy families are each unhappy in their own way. "——"Anna Karenina"
Work appreciation: "Anna Karenina" is one of the most important masterpieces of the famous Russian writer Tolstoy. As soon as this work came out, it attracted widespread attention. His contemporary Russian writer Dostoyevsky even believed that this "is a perfect work of art" and that there is simply "nothing of the same kind in modern European literature that can compare with it." "Anna Karenina" is indeed a great work. As a realist writer, Tolstoy created an unparalleled picture of Russian social life in the 1870s in this novel. The Russian poet Fett said that the author seemed to have packed the entire era into this novel.
Reflecting the times: "Anna Karenina" was created in the 1870s (1873-1877), when Russia was in a period of great historical change. Russia's ancient feudal landlords were influenced by the wave of Western European capitalism. Blast hard. "Everything has been turned upside down, and everything has just begun to be established." It means that the old order of the feudal aristocracy has been turned upside down, and the capitalist system has just begun to be established. In this historical period of alternation between old and new, what most attracted Tolstoy's attention were the changes in the family and the fate of women. Family tragedies emerged one after another, and scenes unfolded before his eyes. The news that a woman committed suicide by lying on a train due to love problems particularly shocked and saddened him. This may be the direct reason why he created "Anna Karenina".
Creative process: Tolstoy took a lot of effort to create this novel. As early as 1870, Tolstoy began to conceive of this novel. He told his wife, "I thought of a typical example of a woman who was born in the upper class and had a very painful marriage." He said, "My task was to write this woman as pitiful but not guilty." In 1873, he began to write. His wife said in a letter to her relatives that what he wrote "is a long novel based on modern life." The plot of the novel is "a narrative of an unfaithful wife and all the tragedy that results from it." He wrote according to this idea, and it went smoothly at first. The first draft only took about a month to complete. But it took him nearly five years of intense labor to complete the novel. It was not until 1875 that novels began to be published in the "Russian Herald". In 1878, the first single volume was published. In this long creative process, he gradually expanded the scope of subject matter, deepened the connotation of the theme, and strengthened the intensity of the theme. As a result, the novel has evolved from initially only showing a family tragedy caused by a wife's unfaithfulness to telling a family story that reflects the vast and complex Russian society that was undergoing drastic changes in the 1960s and 1970s. A magnificent historical picture of life.
Influence on modern Chinese literature: Leo Tolstoy’s influence is huge. The power of his thoughts and art has left its mark on the literary and ideological and cultural fields of countries around the world. The famous Austrian writer Zweig said it well: Tolstoy's influence "is like a torrent coming from the center of heaven. ... Tolstoy's thoughts... gave birth to various spiritual activities in the 20th century." "Anna Calle" The work "Nina" was a major force in producing this impact. In modern Chinese literature, Tolstoy's influence can also be seen everywhere. In Lu Xun's "A Little Thing", there is Tolstoy's introspection and confession; in Bing Xin's "A Melancholic Youth", the protagonist is very similar to Ilqianye in "Youth"; another of Bing Xin's works The mother image in "Superman" can be said to be the embodiment of Tolstoy's love; Ye Shaojun's "Ni Huanzhi", Mao Dun's "Three Company", Lu Yin's "Old Friend on the Seaside", Wang Tongzhao's "Smile", Xu Dishan's Excellent works of modern Chinese literature such as "The Spider Weavers a Web" reflect Tolstoy's theory of pan-love, views on labor and views on human nature. Many Chinese writers have mentioned the influence of Tolstoy on them when talking about their literary experiences.
Author style: Tolstoy is the most complex of all the great figures of the nineteenth century. ——Gorky
Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) is the greatest representative of Russian critical realism literature and one of the greatest writers in the history of world literature. Yasnaya Polyana was born on September 9, 1828 in Klapivun County, Tula Province. The Tolstoy family was a noble family. His father was Count Nikolai Ilyich, and his mother, Maria Nikolayevna, was the daughter of Duke Nikolay Seri Volkonsky. Tolstoy received a typical aristocratic family education since childhood. He studied at the Department of Oriental Languages ??and Literature at Kazan University and prepared to be a diplomat. The following year he transferred to the Department of Law. His main works include the autobiographical trilogy "Childhood", "Boyhood" and "Youth", the novellas "Morning of a Landlord" and "The Cossacks", and the novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenni" "Na", "Resurrection". The long masterpieces "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" created from the 1960s to the 1970s earned him a high world reputation. "Resurrection", written in the late 1980s, is a summary of the author's life creation and ideological exploration.
(2) "Gone with the Wind"
Appreciation of the work: "Gone with the Wind" is a romantic work written by the famous American female writer Margaret Mitchell, reflecting the North and South. War-themed novels. The protagonist Scarlett's rebellious spirit, hard work, and self-improvement have always fascinated readers. On the eve of the American Civil War, 16-year-old Miss Scarlett was madly in love with her neighbor Ashley Wilkes in Tara Manor, Georgia. After the war broke out, Ashley married his cousin Melanie Hamilton. In a rage, Scarlett married Charles, whom she did not love. Soon, Charles died of illness during the war, and Scarlett became a widow. At a fundraising dance, she met Captain Rhett Butler. As the war approaches Atlanta, Scarlett escapes Atlanta with the help of Captain Rhett and returns to Tara Manor. Seeing that the former manor was in ruins, Scarlett was determined to revive her home at all costs. Soon, Scarlett's second husband Frank died in a duel, and she became a widow again. Rhett loved Scarlett sincerely and passionately, and Scarlett soon married Rhett. Although Rhett has a similar temperament to hers that attracts her, at the same time she is still obsessed with Ashley, whom she once loved. Rhett left Scarlett sadly, but Scarlett realized at this time that Rhett was the only person who could truly love her.
Author style: "Gone with the Wind" created by Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) became a global sensation as soon as it came out. This was unexpected by the author. She only wrote this one novel in her life, but this novel alone made her a household name. Some people describe that Michel went to bed at night unknown, but woke up the next morning as the number one celebrity in the country. Honors followed, including the Boni Paige Memorial Award in 1938, the New York Southern Society Gold Medal in the same year, and a doctorate in literature from Smith College for Women in 1939. Michelle was born on November 8, 1900, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her father was a historian and former president of the Atlanta Historical Society. Michelle attended Washington High School and studied medicine at Smith College for Women in Northampton, Massachusetts. After the death of her mother, she took a leave of absence to take care of her father and brother. In 1922, he served as a reporter and columnist for the Atlanta Journal, but he resigned due to an ankle injury. Influenced by her family since childhood, Michelle has always liked to study history. After resigning, she began to study the history of the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Michelle wanted to reflect her research experience and results in the form of a novel. After ten years of hard work, the novel "Gone with the Wind" was finally completed. The novel was published and immediately caused a sensation in the world.
(3) "Jane Eyre"
Appreciation of the work: In 1847, after the publication of "Jane Eyre", there was a sensation in London, at the same time as the author Charlotte Bronte The famous contemporary writer Thackeray praised it as "a masterpiece of a great genius". "Jane Eyre" describes the heroine's spiritual journey of pain, suffering, resistance and pursuit. Jane Eyre is short in stature and plain in appearance, but she has a rich emotional world. She was always neither humble nor arrogant, maintained her personal dignity, and won the respect and love of Rochester. Despite all the hardships, Jane Eyre finally listened to the call of her heart and returned to Rochester, who lost everything in a fire and became blind. . Two hearts that truly love each other are happily united. The success of "Jane Eyre" lies in the artistic image of the heroine Jane Eyre created by the work. Charlotte once said to her two sisters Emily Bronte and Anne Bronte: "I am going to write a heroine for you. She is just like me, not amazing in appearance and short in stature, but she has to It can arouse the interest of readers as well as any heroine you write." The author goes against the traditional writing method of "a talented man and a beautiful woman" and successfully creates a new image of a woman who is not outstanding in appearance and is determined to pursue equality and independent personality.
Author style: Charlotte Bront? (1816-1855) was an outstanding British female writer in the 19th century. She was as famous as Dickens and Thackeray, and was praised by Marx as "the outstanding group of writers in Britain". "Novelist; sisters Emily Bronte (author of "Wuthering Heights") and Anne Bronte are both famous in the literary world, and are known as the "Three Bronte Sisters".
Charlotte was born in a poor country pastor's family. He was sent to an orphanage as a child. After leaving the orphanage, he worked as a tutor, then continued to go to school and taught English in a boarding school. Charlotte has loved literature and writing since she was a child. In 1846, he and his two sisters shared the pen name "Bell" and published their first collection of poems at their own expense. The publication of "Jane Eyre" in 1847 caused a sensation in the literary world. The following year, her brother Branwell and sister Emily died one after another. Soon my little sister Annie also passed away. In order to forget the sorrow of life, she devoted herself to writing and completed "Chelly" (1949), "Villette" (1853) and "The Teacher" (1855).
(4) "La Traviata"
Work appreciation: This is a romantic love tragedy written by the famous French writer Xiaozhongma. Marguerite was a social star among Parisian high society. Her extraordinary beauty and superior intelligence made her the target of wealthy children. After getting acquainted with Armand, Margaret was deeply moved by Armand's sincerity and dedication, and the two fell in love with each other. They stayed away from the bustling city and lived a simple and unpretentious life in the suburbs of Paris. At this time, Armand's father begged Margaret to leave Armand for the sake of the family's reputation.
In order to fulfill the happiness of Armand's family, Margaret left Armand. Armand, who did not know the inside story, repeatedly humiliated and embarrassed Margaret. Facing the heavy blow of life, she became even more disheartened about life. When Armand learned the truth and rushed to Margaret, she died alone in her apartment due to poverty, illness, physical and mental exhaustion.
Author style: Alexandre Dumas (1825-1895), a French novelist and playwright, was the illegitimate son of Alexandre Dumas. As an illegitimate child, Dumas was ridiculed by others in his childhood and adolescence. After growing up, I felt that it was the social reality in France that had caused many women who were insulted and injured like their mother and son to be determined to engage in writing in order to change social morality. "La Traviata" is his famous work. He adapted it into a play of the same name in 1852, which achieved greater success. Later, Xiao Dumas wrote more than 20 plays, with a more distinct realist tendency. Due to his own life experience, he published many "problem plays" with the theme of illegitimate children. In addition to "La Traviata", his representative works include "Half Society", "Money Matters", "The Illegitimate Son", "Madame Aubrey's Views", "Women from a Foreign Country", "Deniz", etc.
(5) "The Legend of Monte Cristo"
Appreciation of the work: "The Legend of Monte Cristo" is a long-form popular novel that is rare in the world. The novel is cleverly conceived, the plot is twists and turns, exciting, and the whole story is full of legend. The story takes place during the French Restoration Dynasty. The protagonist Dantès is the first mate of the shipowner Morel's merchant ship "King of Egypt". He was falsely accused and was arrested and imprisoned for 14 years. In prison, he met the elder Faria, who made him a knowledgeable and omnipotent man, and told him the location of the treasure on Mount Cristo. When the elder died, Dantès managed to escape from the Chateau d'If prison by slipping into the sack in which the body was wrapped. After being released from prison, he obtained the treasure and became the Count of Monte Cristo with a wealthy family. He is determined to use money to punish evil and promote good in the name of God, and to repay kindness and revenge. He repaid the benefactor Captain Morrel who had taken care of his father, and then punished all the enemies who framed him in clever ways. The novel began to be serialized in Paris's "Debate" in 1845. As soon as it was published, it immediately caused a sensation in Paris. Gorky praised the novel as a "refreshing read."
The birth of "The Grudge of Monte Cristo": When Alexandre Dumas was young, he especially loved reading romantic and legendary novels such as "One Thousand and One Nights" and "Robin Hood", and developed a love of fantasy since he was a child. romantic character. Later, he carefully studied the style of Scott's historical novels, and began to collect anecdotes and observe people and customs in order to write popular novels. In 1842, he traveled in the Mediterranean and became interested in the island of Monte Cristo near Elba, so he connected the island with the "Revenge of the Diamond" case file he discovered in the old Paris police archives in 1838 to formulate the plot of the story. , and thus "The Grudge of Monte Cristo" was born. After "The Grudge of Monte Cristo" was serialized in "The Debate", it immediately caused a sensation. Crazy readers wrote letters to the newspaper from all over, asking about the protagonist's future encounters. Readers who were so excited by their curiosity that they couldn't restrain themselves even rushed to the printing factory to "bribe" the printers in order to get a sneak peek of the story that would appear in the next day's newspaper. It is rare in the history of world literature for a novel with a contemporary theme to produce such a "sensational effect" and have such tenacious vitality that it is still loved by hundreds of millions of readers around the world more than a hundred years later. See.
Author style:
Alexander Dumas (1802-1870), known as Alexandre Dumas in the world, is a representative of French romantic literature in the first half of the 19th century. His works have vivid stories and twists and turns. ,fascinating. Alexandre Dumas was born in Villeret-Colette on July 24, 1802. When he was young, he worked as a clerk or clerk. Because he wanted to engage in literary activities, he resigned from his position and began to create literary works and achieved remarkable results. Alexandre Dumas's main literary achievement lies in the creation of novels. His representative works include "The Three Musketeers" (1844), "Queen Margot" (1845), and "The Story of Monte Cristo" (1845). Alexandre Dumas created a lot of things in his life. Victor Hugo said of Alexandre Dumas: "He is as refreshing as a summer thunderstorm, a lovable person. He is thick clouds, thunder, and lightning, but he has never hurt anyone. All Everyone knows that he is as gentle and generous as the rain in a severe drought."
(6) "How Steel Was Tempered"
Appreciation of the work: "Steel is Made." "How to Make It" is the representative work of the famous Soviet writer Ostrovsky. It is one of the most representative masterpieces in Soviet literature and one of the most exciting works in world literature. The novel narrates the life of the protagonist Paul Korchagin and creates for us the image of an outstanding Bolshevik who lives and struggles endlessly. After the novel was published, it caused a huge response. The protagonist Paul also became a role model for young people in the Soviet Union and my country, inspiring people to move forward bravely.
Author style: Soviet writer Ostrovsky (1904-1936) was born in Ostrunsh County, Volyn Province, Ukraine. His father and mother were both workers. Because his family was poor, he only attended elementary school for three years, so he was forced to make a living on his own, working as a canteen waiter, a stove's assistant, and an electrician. After the victory of the October Revolution, he joined the Volunteer Army. In 1920, he was demobilized due to injuries. Soon he contracted typhoid fever and rheumatism while fighting a flood, and joined the party in 1924.
He served as the district committee secretary and prefectural committee secretary of the *** Youth League. In 1927, he became paralyzed and became blind. He engaged in literary creation with amazing perseverance. In 1933, he wrote his first novel "How Steel Was Tempered". In 1935, he was awarded the Order of Lenin. In 1936, he completed "Born of the Storm" (the first part of the trilogy).
(7) "War and Peace"
Work Appreciation: Tolstoy's masterpiece "War and Peace" is the first voluminous volume in the history of Russian literature, with a length of 1.3 million words. An epic novel. The novel is based on the Russo-French War of 1812, centered on the Russian Patriotic War of 1812, and reflects the major historical events from 1805 to 1820. The novel begins in 1805 when the Petersburg nobles discuss Napoleon's campaign in Europe. The Chinese, European, Russian and Austrian allied forces and Napoleon were defeated across the board, and finally ends in 1825 on the eve of the Decembrist Movement. The work focuses on the thoughts and actions of the forty families of Bolkonsky, Bezukhov, Rostov, and Kuragin in war and peace environments. It is based on the main members of the four families, Andrei and Pierre. The fate of Er and Natasha is the plot clue throughout, depicting Russian social fashion and showing a broad picture of life. It is a realistic and heroic epic novel. The emergence of the novel coincided with the unprecedented prosperity of Russian critical realist literature. Like a bright star, it added luster to Russian literature and won Tolstoy the reputation of a world literary giant.
Author style:
Tolstoy is the most complex of all the great figures of the nineteenth century. ——Gorky
Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910) is the greatest representative of Russian critical realism literature and one of the greatest writers in the history of world literature. Yasnaya Polyana was born on September 9, 1828 in Klapivun County, Tula Province. The Tolstoy family was a noble family. His father was Count Nikolai Ilyich, and his mother, Maria Nikolayevna, was the daughter of Duke Nikolay Seri Volkonsky. Tolstoy received a typical aristocratic family education since childhood. He studied at the Department of Oriental Languages ??and Literature at Kazan University and prepared to be a diplomat. The following year he transferred to the Department of Law. His main works include the autobiographical trilogy "Childhood", "Boyhood" and "Youth", the novellas "Morning of a Landlord" and "The Cossacks", and the novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenni" "Na", "Resurrection". The long masterpieces "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" created from the 1960s to the 1970s earned him a high world reputation. "Resurrection", written in the late 1980s, is a summary of the author's life creation and ideological exploration.
(8) "Resurrection"
"Resurrection" is a masterpiece by the Russian critical realist writer Tolstoy and one of the immortal masterpieces of world literature. The protagonist of the novel, Katyusha Maslova, was originally the adopted daughter of an aristocratic landowner. She was abandoned after being seduced by her master's nephew, the young aristocratic Duke Nekhludoff. As a result, she fell into a life of misery. She was driven away by her master while she was pregnant. She wandered around and became a prostitute for eight years. Later, she was framed for murder and was arrested and imprisoned. Ten years later, Nekhludoff appeared as a juror in Maslova's case. He recognized the defendant as Maslova, who was abandoned by him ten years ago, and he was condemned by his conscience. In order to atone for his soul, he traveled around to commute her sentence. When all efforts failed, Maslova was escorted to Siberia, with Nekhludoff accompanying her. On the way, notice came that the emperor had granted Maslova a commutation of her sentence, and the hard labor was changed to exile. Although Maslova still loved Nekhludoff at this time, she refused his proposal for the sake of his future and married the political prisoner Simonson. The experiences of these two protagonists show their spiritual and moral resurrection. The novel exposes those officials who are corrupt and bend the law and touches on the essence of the old law.
(9) "Notre Dame de Paris"
Work appreciation: "Notre Dame de Paris" was published in 1831. It is the first work of Victor Hugo, the founder of French romantic literature. A novel with great ideological significance and artistic value, it is known as a masterpiece of romanticism.
The novel profoundly exposes the darkness of the church, the hypocrisy of the monks and the cruelty of the feudal nobles through the tragic story of Esmeralda, a gypsy girl, who was falsely accused and persecuted to death by Frollo, the deputy bishop of Notre Dame de Paris. . The novel describes Paris society in the 15th century, but it denounces the social reality of the author's time. The whole novel is full of the dark romantic fighting spirit of anti-feudal, anti-clerical and anti-social.
Author style:
A generation of literary giants - Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo (1802-1885) was an important French poet and novelist in the 19th century writer, dramatist and social activist. Born on February 26, 1802 in Besancon, eastern France. Hugo supported romanticism in literary and artistic thought and bourgeois liberalism in politics. In 1827, he published the verse script "Cromwell" and its "Preface". This "Preface" became an important declaration of the Romantic movement at that time, and Hugo was also considered the leader of the Romantic movement. Hugo's representative works include: the novel "Notre Dame de Paris" (1831), "Les Misérables" (1862), "Labour at Sea" (1866), "The Man Who Laughs" (1869), etc.
Hugo was in Brussels when the Paris Commune revolted in 1871. When the Commune was brutally suppressed, he loudly defended the Commune and fought for amnesty for its members. The novel "Ninety-Three Years" published in 1877 is an important work of Hugo's later period, which reflects the author's humanitarian thoughts.
(10) "Old Man Goriot"
Money can buy everything, including a daughter. —"Petro Goriot"
Work appreciation: "Petro Goriot" is one of Balzac's masterpieces and occupies an important position in "The Human Comedy". It is a hub in the huge structure of "The Human Comedy" and is called the "prologue" of "The Human Comedy". The novel "tear off the tender veil covering family relationships" and criticizes the naked money relationship between people in capitalist society with great artistic power. The environment of the novel is detailed and realistic, the details are described delicately and vividly, and the typical characters are created with outstanding personalities. This makes the work highly artistic and attractive, and it still attracts readers all over the world.
Author style: Balzac (1799-1850) is the most outstanding critical realist writer in France. Engels called him "a much greater reality than all Zolas in the past, present and future." Master of ism". Balzac was born in Tours, western France. He studied at the Vend?me Mission School as a child and later entered a university in Paris to study law. After graduation, Balzac decided to engage in literary creation despite his parents' opposition. The first work, the historical tragedy Cromwell, was a complete failure. He once gave up writing and went into business but failed. His commercial failure left him with a lot of debt and a lifelong burden, but it also laid a solid foundation for his future creations. In 1829, he published the novel "The Shuang Party". This is Balzac's first work to achieve world fame. Since then, he has written one work after another with great energy and at an astonishing speed, building a magnificent literary edifice - "Human Comedy". His main works include "Donkey Skin" and "Eugenie Grace". "Langtai", "Petro Goriot", "Disillusionment", "Aunt Bei", etc.
(11) "The Old Man and the Sea"
"The Old Man and the Sea" is a novella. By Hemingway. Published in 1952. This is the continuation and development of the "tough guy character" he has described since the 1920s. The novel mainly tells about a weather-beaten old Cuban fisherman who fished at sea for 84 consecutive days without harvesting anything. He continued fishing on the 85th day and finally caught a big marlin. However, on the way back, he encountered a large group of sharks. During the siege, the old man Santiago fought with the sharks for three days regardless of his own safety. As a result, when the old man returned to the shore, only a huge fish skeleton was left. Through the struggle between man and nature, the novel expresses the theme of man facing failure bravely. Although Santiago failed in the fight with the shark that symbolized doom, he did not give in in the face of misfortune. He believed that although people can be temporarily defeated, the human spirit and will can never be defeated. "A person is not born to be defeated. You can eliminate him, but you can't defeat him." The novel is highly general, allegorical and symbolic in art. Contrast method and inner monologue are used to depict the character's character, and the language is clear, smooth, and unpretentious.
Author style: Hemingway (1899-1961), American novelist. After graduating from high school, he served as a trainee reporter. His early works showed the hesitation of the young generation after the First World War, and he was known as the representative of the "lost generation". In the late 1920s, he returned to Florida in the United States and traveled extensively. He wrote many short stories with boxers, matadors, fishermen, hunters, etc. as protagonists, creating a "tough guy character." Worked as a war correspondent in Europe during World War II. His main works include the short story collection "In Our Time" and "Men Without Women", the novel "A Farewell to Arms", the novella "The Old Man and the Sea", and "The Sun Also Rises" ", "To Have and Have Not", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Crossing the River into the Woods", close-up "The Land of Spain", etc. His works have unique thoughts and artistic styles, and he is a master of language art who created a generation of writing style. Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954.
(12) "The Decameron"
Work appreciation: "The Decameron" is a collection of short stories. It is the earliest representative writer of the Italian Renaissance by Boccaccio. The work that had the greatest influence on later generations was the first realistic work in the history of modern European literature. Written in 1384, completed in 1353. The novel's writing style is concise and its language is vivid. The work begins with the story of 10 young men and women who lived in a villa in the countryside of Florence to escape the Black Death. Each of them told a story every day and took turns telling 100 stories in 10 days, hence the name "The Decameron". It reflected the vast real society of Italy at that time, opposed asceticism, praised the love between men and women, opposed caste privileges, promoted human equality, exposed the corruption and ignorance of the nobility, and criticized the hypocrisy and absurdity of the monks. Most of the stories are based on historical events, medieval folklore and oriental folktales. In terms of form, it broke through the simple story-telling method of medieval novels, and attempted to explore new ways in describing natural scenery, outlining character characteristics, portraying character psychology and sculptural images, which had a significant impact on the development of subsequent European novels.
Author style: Boccaccio (1313-1375), one of the earliest representatives of the Italian Renaissance, a humanist who enthusiastically studied ancient books, a scholar who was proficient in Greek, and a prolific author.
He is the author of the novel "Filocoro", the epic poems "Tesseida" and "Filotrato", the pastoral "Ametto", the long poems "The Phantom of Love" and "The Goddess of Fisotano" etc., his most important work that has the greatest influence on later generations is the collection of short stories "The Decameron". These works reflect the views of humanism and the characteristics of early humanism, such as advocating retro culture, opposing the asceticism of the church, affirming people's right to enjoy happiness in this world, and praising love and joy in the world. At the same time, they also express humanist ideas. The narrow-mindedness of people regards personal happiness and personal interests as the supreme things. This is precisely the first ideological outcome of the emergence of capitalism. Together with Dante and Petrarch, he was called the "Three Masters" of the early Renaissance.
Maupassant's "Ball of Suet"