Back to 80: My literary life.

Chapter 446 445 This is an epic novel that reminds me of the history of the pioneering of the American West.

After the host's brief opening speech, today's awards process began. All guests took the stage to announce the major awards of this year's National Book Critics Circle Awards.

There are six awards: Fiction Award, Non-fiction Award (non-fiction), Poetry Award, Memoir/Autobiography Award, Biography Award, and Criticism Award. The best five works in each category will be selected for the final selection.

Among the recommended works in 1988, the jury received a total of 1538 books of various types, including 354 novels. The competition was very fierce.

Major awards were awarded one after another, and the winners beamed with joy and went on stage to receive their awards and deliver their acceptance speeches.

The finale is usually the finale, this year’s winner of the Grand Prize in the Fiction category.

There are a total of five shortlisted works this time: the novel "Beloved" by the black American female writer Morrison, "The Bridge" written by the famous British writer Iain Banks; and the hypertext novel "" written by the American writer Michael Joyce Afternoon, a Story"; Australian writer Peter Carey's "Oscar and Lucinda" and "Enter Guandong" written by Fang Minghua.

Among them, "Crossing Guandong" is the only translated novel written in a language other than English.

"Morrison wrote the most popular book, Beloved, which just won the Pulitzer Prize." Emily whispered.

There was some worry in his tone.

After the host finished the introduction, two lottery guests, a man and a woman, walked onto the stage and picked up the sealed envelopes.

"Mr. Minghua, please come on stage to accept the award!"

Fang Minghua patted the girl's hand gently to show calmness.

What he didn't know was that Michael Bly, wearing a suit and tie, was also in the concert hall.

This period of history is somewhat similar to the exploration and development of the American West. Both were large-scale immigration and development that had a great influence on the modern history of the world.

The envelope was opened gently. Looking at the contents on it, the two looked at each other with surprise in their eyes.

But "Crossing Guandong" also has its own advantages. It is the only epic novel among the five novels.

Although the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to the author rather than a specific book, it shows that Morrison is very powerful.

"Crossing Guandong" by Chinese writer Minghua

"It reminds me of our American Western cowboy novels, a combination of heroic myth and historical truth."

In the United States, most serious novels either write about racial conflicts or class conflicts, and indulge in the trivial matters of life. Such a history of national migration that is full of wild flavor, desolation and pathos rarely appears.

The concert hall suddenly burst into warm applause!
"Congratulations, Minghua!" Emily was extremely excited, as if she had won this grand prize.

It seems that the phenomenal novel about the exploration and development of the American West should be Michael Bly's "Dances with Wolves", right?

Soon, the host began to give a brief overview of the five shortlisted novels. Sure enough, the evaluation of "Crossing Guandong" was:

Fang Minghua's face was calm.

In fact, he knew about Morris's strength. It seems that he even won the Nobel Prize for Literature later?

"This is an epic novel that describes China's vast nation, region, and life background. The writing is full of wind and clouds, and is filled with the vast and majestic atmosphere of Guandong, which steams from the vast and melancholy land. The masculine beauty shows through the back of the paper.”

But soon, the female guest read with a slight Texas accent: "The winner of this year's National Book Critics Circle Award for Best Novel is." At this point, the female guest paused and looked toward the concert hall. Scanning, as if looking for something.

It seems it hasn't been published yet.

"thanks, thanks."

Fang Minghua once again congratulated and expressed his gratitude to the surrounding guests at the party. This time he stood up, straightened his suit and strode towards the stage.

He took the certificate from the female guest and gave her a very gentlemanly gift.
Then came the acceptance speech. Fang Minghua is already familiar with this, although this time he used English.

"Here I would first like to thank the members of the National Book Critics Circle Award organizing committee for their hard work. I would also like to thank my family in China for their help, especially the beautiful Miss Li Li from Oxford University. Doctor of Literature, without her wonderful translation, this book would not have been able to meet the vast number of American readers.”

"Finally, I would like to thank my great motherland, which has gone through many vicissitudes of life but is still full of vigor and vitality."

"Lili, Lili, Minghua has won the grand prize, come here quickly!" In this villa in San Francisco, Demi ran to the next room excitedly and shouted to Li Li.

Hearing this, Li Li put down the pen in her hand and followed him into the room. She happened to hear the words: "Special thanks to the beautiful Miss Li Li." A smile appeared on her face.

With these words, the months of hard work are worth it.

"Hey, Lili, do you want to see your brother-in-law?" Demi asked suddenly.

"What's there to see? We see each other often in China." Li Li muttered.

"But we can't see each other often in the future." Demi said with a smile.

"So what if we meet?" Li Li sighed slightly, suddenly smiled freely, and said a Chinese sentence, "It is better to forget each other in the world."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not interesting, I'm going to read a book." After saying that, Li Li turned around and left the room.

This year's National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction was taken away by a non-English speaking person, making him the biggest dark horse in this year's Book Critics Circle Award.

Fang Minghua is also the first Chinese to win this award.

At noon the next day, Fang Minghua was invited to participate in a cultural interview program called "Round Table Party" by the famous New York host Macdonald. In the program, Fang Minghua talked freely about his creative feelings.

In the evening, John, the president of Simon Book Publishing Company, hosted a banquet in the hotel for Fang Minghua, accompanied by Emily.

I ate French food, orange French foie gras, French braised potatoes, French seafood puff pastry cream sauce
The drink was red wine from Bordeaux.

Johnson is a middle-aged man in his early fifties. He is very talkative and chats with Fang Minghua all over the world.

"Mr. Minghua, what are you planning to write in your next novel?" John raised his goblet and asked.

Fang Minghua also raised his cup, the two touched it lightly, took a sip, wiped their mouths and said, "I haven't thought about it yet."

"Mr. Minghua, I hope you can write another best-selling book like "Covered Bridge's Lost Dreams"."

John did not mention the award-winning "Crossing Guandong".

In fact, everyone knows that, regardless of literary quality, this "Crossing the Guandong" cannot be compared with the former in terms of market economic benefits.

Obviously, as the leader of a book publishing company, economic benefits are more important.

Fang Minghua also understands this very well.

There are Nobel Prize winners in literature every year, but only a handful of their books are real bestsellers.

Of course, Fang Minghua must be modest and say that he should try his best to write novels that everyone likes to read and that have a certain depth.

After the meal, they dispersed.

Of course, Fang Minghua also has activities: going to watch the musical "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway with Emily.

(End of this chapter)