Masters of short stories in the world:
1) Maupassant
A famous French critical realist novelist in the 19th century. In 1880, he published his first short story "Ball of Suet". Since then, he has written a large number of short stories that perfectly combine ideological and artistic qualities, winning praise from the world's short story masters. His creations extensively and profoundly reflected the social reality of France in the second half of the nineteenth century, ruthlessly exposed the ugliness of bourgeois morals, and showed sympathy for the "little people" of the lower class. The novel has novel ideas, vivid descriptions, personalized language, and unique layout. His representative works include the short stories "Ball of Suet" and "The Necklace", and the novels "Life" and "Junyou" (also translated as "Beautiful Friend"). He has created 6 novels and more than 356 short stories and short stories in his life. , his literary achievements are most prominent in short stories, and he is known as the "King of Short Stories", which has had a great impact on later generations.
Maupassant was born in a declining aristocratic family. His mother was obsessed with literature and art. He had a deep literary accomplishment and especially loved poetry. Under his influence, Maupassant dreamed of becoming a poet when he was a boy.
When he was in middle school in Rouen, he was influenced by poetry. Influenced by the teacher and poet Louis Buna, he began to study literature in various genres. Later, he practiced writing under Flaubert's personal guidance and participated in the activities of the naturalist writers group headed by Zola. In 1870, Maupassant participated in the Franco-Prussian War. , after he retired from the army, he continued to engage in literary writing in his spare time.
With "Ball of Suet" (1880), he was selected into the short story collection "Meitang Party" and jumped onto the French literary scene. His peak period was in the 1080s. In 10 years, he wrote 6 novels: "Life" (1883), "Friends" (1885), "Hot Springs" (1886), and "Pierre and John" (1887). , "Strong as Death" (1889), "Our Hearts" (1890). These works reveal the dark inside story of the Third Republic: Cabinet officials deceived the parliament and the people for the benefit of the financial giants. Launching an imperialist war to plunder the African colony of Morocco; criticizing the corruption, greed, intrigue and shamelessness of the ruling group. Maupassant also created more than 350 short and medium-length novels, while exposing the upper-class rulers and the social atmosphere they poisoned. Express deep sympathy for the little people who have been insulted and damaged
The themes of the short stories can be roughly summarized into three aspects: the first is to satirize vanity and money worship, such as "The Necklace" and "My Uncle Jules". "; the second is to describe the tragic experience of the working people and praise their integrity, simplicity and generosity of character, such as "The Return"; the third is to describe the Franco-Prussian War and reflect the patriotic sentiments of the French people, such as "Ball of Suet"
The exquisite layout and structure of Maupassant's short stories, the lyrical narrative techniques and the flowing and natural writing style have provided models for later writers.
(2) Chekhov<. /p>
The 10th century Russian critical realist writer, dramatist and short story art master. His early collaborations satirized and exposed the ugly face of official figures in Russian society who flattered superiors and bullied subordinates. His writing was full of humor and excitement. It makes people think deeply. In the mid-1980s, he wrote short stories that were both humorous and tragic, reflecting the unfortunate lives of people at the bottom of society who were insulted and damaged. His representative works include the short stories "Chameleon" and "The Chameleon". "Trouble", "Wanka", "Sixth Ward", "The Man in the Trap", etc.
The peak period of creation happened in the most reactionary and darkest period of 1980s in Russia. Chekhov's world view and creative thoughts, "Chekhov's Creation and Issues of Realism in the Late Nineteenth Century" is a reference book worth reading. This book was written by the Soviet female literary critic Yelizharova and published by Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House in 1962. Some passages are quoted here for reference only:
1 The objectively true sketches made by this young writer seem at first glance to be just about telling some interesting things about life, writing about a conversation that was overheard by chance. Taking a portrait, however, it is these small pictures that constitute a rich and authentic picture of Russia that is full of the characteristics of the times...a unique satirical epic of Russian life at that time.
2 Among the various facts of Russian life revealed by Andosa Chihont (the pen name of Chekhov's early published works - the author), it was soon decided that the two subjects he focused on were This phenomenon: the tyranny of the police and the evil power of the small citizens. It is these themes that run through Chekhov's mature creations and have been fully developed and achieved. The oppression of the police and the bureaucracy makes the entire country suffer; the submissive and contented citizens are the symbolic representatives of stagnation, lack of social initiative and legal brutality. In Chekhov's view, the oppression of police bureaucracy and petty citizens are the most terrible social scourges...
3 Due to the unprecedented increase and complexity of the bureaucratic machine, the selection of members of the bureaucracy at Chekhov's time There was a certain tendency of "democratization": some chiefs and even "big figures" were often promoted from the petty bourgeoisie or the "little guys" in the bureaucracy, and these selected people became the most enthusiastic members of the tsarist government. Defender and loyal servant.
...The forms of oppression and the types of oppressors are constantly "enriched"; the need to oppress others spreads everywhere like an infectious disease, sometimes even manifesting itself in the most unexpected and incredible forms. This phenomenon has gradually become one of the central issues in Chekhov's creation since the first half of the 1980s.
4 Chekhov deeply hates the small bourgeoisie because these people are lifeless, insensitive, well-fed, careless, parasitic, and have an animal-like indifference to all issues of human concern. ...In Chekhov's view, no one is as hostile to real human interests as the philistines, because they cannot do without their motto at any time and under any circumstances: "This is not my business."... Chekhov When describing the world of the philistine from various angles, he focused on one of its basic characteristics: the terrible power of trivial matters (various low-level emotions, trivial events, vulgar interests and "activities" that put the cart before the horse). Small bourgeoisie regard the trivial matters of life as important, inevitable, and the only important and meaningful things. Meaninglessness and absurdity determine the essence of the social existence of such people. Their lives are extremely empty. In their lives, there is not even a little bit of anything similar to labor and career activities.
3) O. Henry, formerly known as William Sidney Porter, is one of the most famous short story writers in the United States. He was once praised by critics as the Manhattan prose writer and the American prose writer. The father of the modern short story. He was born in a family of doctors in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. His life was legendary, and he worked as a pharmacy apprentice, a cattle herder, an accountant, a land bureau clerk, a journalist, and a bank teller. When he was a bank teller, the bank was short of cash. In order to avoid interrogation, he left home and went into exile in Honduras, Central America. Later, he was arrested and imprisoned because he went home to visit his critically ill wife, and worked as a pharmacist in the prison infirmary. He had some writing experience while working in a bank, and started writing seriously after serving as a pharmacist in the prison infirmary. After being released early in 1901, he moved to New York and specialized in writing.
A famous American realist writer at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. , he wrote a short story almost every week for publication in newspapers. He wrote nearly 300 short stories and one novel in his life, exposing and satirizing the decadent capitalist system, inhumane laws, and hypocritical morality. O. Henry is good at describing American society, especially the lives of people in New York. His works are novel in concept,
with humorous language and often surprising endings; and because they describe many characters and are full of life interest,
they are known as "the humor of American life". encyclopedia". His representative works include the novel collection "Cabbage and the King", "Four Million", "The Road of Destiny", etc. Some of the famous works include "The Sacrifice of Love", "The Police and the Hymn", "The Furnished Room for Rent", "The Gift of the Magi", "The Last Vine Leaf", etc.
He gained worldwide fame.