The exchange meeting ended.

Both the French and the British were satisfied with the results.

Of course, the atmosphere at the scene still did not improve.

The two groups of people have just finished fighting each other, and they are tired of each other.

As the organizer, London Politics and Economics definitely doesn't want the scene to be too ugly.

George Bernard Shaw saw off Edward VII and Balfort, and then invited the French to dine with him.

The French side also agreed with dignity.

Two groups of people rode in a horse-drawn carriage to the banquet hall of The Langham Hotel.

Because it has been hosting the bidding for advertising space in the Mirror, and has witnessed a large number of business legends, the status of The Langham Hotel has risen rapidly, and it has become a landmark building in London.

When the business tycoons come to London, they must live in Langting.

The hotel is very grateful to Lu Shi,

Therefore, even if London politics and economics did not make an appointment in advance, the manager also agreed to the banquet.

After a while, the waiters began to serve the food.

Food can resolve contradictions,

Not to mention the wine.

The atmosphere on both sides has eased a lot,

There was even a British professor who ran to Proust with a French fish soup and said, "You are right. British food, it's really unpalatable! ”

The crowd laughed.

Proust waved his hand,

"Isn't Yorkshire pudding pretty good?"

Yorkshire pudding is an important part of the British Sunday dinner, mostly as a side dish of roast beef.

The combination of the two is even known as the national dish of the United Kingdom.

The professor sighed, "That's why you can get your hands on roast beef and pudding." ”

The scene burst into laughter again.

George Bernard Shaw whispered to Lu Shi: "It seems that this exchange meeting is still very successful. The more the truth is debated, the clearer it becomes~"

Lu Shi didn't answer,

As a result, Poincaré came over,

"Not really. At least, this time we didn't debate whether English or French was stronger. ”

Lu Shi said: "Any language, if you learn it well enough, you will be able to use it accurately; If you love it, you think it's romantic. So I agree with Mr. Siu's point of view, 'There is no such thing as the most precise language, only whether the person who uses the language can express it accurately'. ”

Poincaré nodded slowly,

After a long time, he said: "In Professor Lu's heart, the most accurate thing must be Chinese." ”

Lu Shi let out a shallow "um" and did not expand on it.

George Bernard Shaw poured wine for Poincaré,

"I can't overstate the love and praise for my own language~"

The two clink glasses,

Then take a sip of each.

George Bernard Shaw said in a low voice: "Monsieur Poincaré, the last time I visited France with Lu, I heard that you are preparing to organize the Goncourt Literary Prize, how is the progress now?" ”

Poincaré was surprised,

"What does Mr. Xiao mean?"

George Bernard Shaw laughs,

"It's a pity that literary awards are limited to China, but it's better to be international."

Poincaré fell into deep thought.

At this time, Verne approached and said: "Mr. Xiao, you also saw last year's Nobel Prize, and it is difficult to hold international awards." ”

There are four major international literary awards in the modern world:

Nobel Prize in Literature,

Needless to say, the winners' works need not be said;

Pulitzer Prize,

Hemingway and Faulkner will win awards, as will works that are more popular with popular tastes, such as Margaret Mitchell, who wrote "Gone with the Wind";

Booker Prize,

The award seems to be particularly popular with filmmakers, with many adaptations, including Young Martel's "The Fantastic Drift of Young Pi" and Keneally's "Schindler's List."

Then there's the Prix Goncourt.

Interestingly, these four awards, except for the Nobel Prize, were initially only for domestic use.

George Bernard Shaw sighed and said, "Mr. Verne, to be honest, it was because of last year's Nobel Prize that I hoped that there would be a new literary prize...... Alas...... I can feel that the old men at the Swedish Academy are very picky about their writing tastes. ”

Poincaré laughed: "'Picky'? I think it's a picky eater, right? ”

Several people couldn't help but laugh.

The literary aesthetic of the Swedish Academy of Letters is more traditional,

Academicians are like gourmets who like palace cuisine and government cuisine, and even if the dishes of the food stalls are cooked deliciously, they will not be able to enter their eyes.

What's more, there is the issue of translation.

It's just this kind of strange time,

In terms of popularity, there are a large number of serialized and secularized dramas;

When it comes to art, there are works like "Lolita";

When it comes to language, English, French, Japanese, and Chinese, all of them are fine.

It belongs to the second vein of the governor, except for the disadvantage of shallow qualifications, and can be awarded without dispute.

Poincaré and Verne couldn't help but look at each other,

Both of them could tell that George Bernard Shaw wanted to make the Prix Goncourt an international prize, and that it would not be so condescending in taste.

Of course, there is a premise for this -

The British side also needs to get involved.

Poincaré chuckled,

"It's not just literature, isn't it?"

George Bernard Shaw nodded,

"Of course. It's like you're going to snatch the first ...... of The Little Prince."

Before the words fell, he was interrupted by Verne: "Mr. Xiao, the first language of literary works, you can't grab it." Moreover, we French people are more reserved, and we can't do the kind of inappropriate thing to rob while the fire is hot. ”

"Poof!"

Poincaré laughed,

He quickly tightened his face and looked away,

"That's not what we're talking about, it's Professor Lu's "Yes! Prime Minister". ”

Lu Shi: "......"

complained in my heart,

Don't push anything at me, hey!

He coughed lightly,

"Did Monsieur Verne say, 'We French are more reserved, and we can't do that kind of inappropriate thing'?"

Unexpectedly, two Frenchmen spoke at the same time,

Poincaré: "Don't mention a word, don't leave a word." ”

Verne: "I didn't mention it, but you did." ”

When the land is full of black lines,

￣□￣｜｜

The atmosphere at the scene became extremely eerie.

George Bernard Shaw coughed lightly,

"Alas...... When I am older, I often have bad ears and cannot hear others clearly. ”

He continued: "We just talked about the literary prize, how can we be the Swedish Academy...... I mean, how can you win the Nobel Prize in Literature? ”

It's like the World University Rankings,

is also like the battle for the first language of "The Little Prince",

In the final analysis, it is a question of the right to speak.

So, as Poincaré put it, "more than literature".

But there are also practical problems,

First of all, the first point,

"How to solve the problem of bonuses?"

Verne said: "Mr. Nobel's legacy is a large amount, supporting not only literary prizes, but also other scientific prizes. And Mr. Goncourt ...... To be honest, when it comes to bonuses alone, we are not strong. ”

George Bernard Shaw thought for a moment,

"Money is a small thing. For writers, the key is honor. ”

That's.

Lu Shi said: "There is a word called 'gold content', isn't it straightforward enough? At the end of the day, honors need to be quantified, and the best way to quantify them is bonuses. Of course, as time goes by, reputation accumulates, and bonuses may no longer matter. But if the prize money for the newly established award is only £1, the writers will not feel it as an honor, but as a mockery. ”

As soon as he finished speaking,

George Bernard Shaw nodded repeatedly,

"Sir, you're so right!"

Land Hours: ???

It feels like I've been tricked.

He said: "Old Xiao, didn't you call me 'Lu'? Isn't it too much to call 'sir'? ”

The corners of George Bernard Shaw's mouth hooked,

"Doesn't that show respect for you?"

"Hiss......"

Lu Shi gasped and said, "You don't want me to sponsor it, do you?" ”

George Bernard Shaw waved his hand repeatedly

"I didn't mean that. However, I did hear that Columbia University's School of Journalism in the United States was completed and is preparing to hold a professional journalism award called the Pulitzer-Land Prize. ”

The head is big when it comes to land,

It turned out that the other party wanted to let himself explode gold coins.

"I didn't sponsor the award, I just sponsored the academy," he said. Don't think about it. ”

George Bernard Shaw smiled,

"Sir, you did misunderstand me this time. I don't want you or the Mirror to pay for it, but ......"

He leaned over to Lu Shi and muttered in his ear.

Lu Shi was stunned,

"Your Majesty, you say?"

George Bernard Shaw corrected: "Royalty estate, to be exact. ”

Edward VII and the royal estate,

Is there any difference between the two?

Lu Shi was speechless.

Unexpectedly, Poincaré on the side clapped his hands and said: "Indeed! Your country's King Edward was wise and far-sighted, and attached great importance to the influence of cultural soft power in international competition. I believe that he must be willing to fund it. ”

Wise and far-sighted......

George Bernard Shaw didn't feel like he knew that kind of person.

But it doesn't matter!

He said: "Monsieur Poincaré, whatever misunderstanding you have, as long as you are willing to express your sincere compliments to Your Majesty, he will certainly not hesitate to support you." ”

With the character of Edward VII, let the French lick him, coupled with Lu Shi's instigation, he is not afraid that he will not be able to get money.

Moreover, the French do not necessarily feel that they are licking,

Looking at them like that, it seems that they have really been "conquered" by His Majesty the King.

What's more, because the royal real estate has invested in the "Mirror", it has a lot of funds in its hands that cannot be spent.

This money can be used to "squander".

Verne said in a low voice: "The investment in the royal estate, coupled with the inheritance of the Goncourt brothers, the problem of bonuses can indeed be solved." ”

As he spoke, he paused,

"Speaking of legacy, though, the second question arises again."

George Bernard Shaw also understands in seconds,

"You're talking about a will?"

Poincaré and Verne nodded silently.

Brothers Goncourt,

Among them, his elder brother Edmond Goncourt made a will to use the estate as a fund to establish the Institut Goncourt, and designated ten friendly writers such as Flaubert, Zola, and Dude as the first academicians.

The purpose of the Faculty of Arts is to discover the best French works.

Death is greater,

The will is such that it cannot be forced against its will to make the French literary prize an international literary prize.

George Bernard Shaw groaned,

"This ...... It really has to be dealt with. ”

Lu Shi was surprised,

"Trouble?"

The other three immediately looked over.

Lu Shi said: "You can set up a branch award." The purpose of the Goncourt Literary Prize is that the elder brother Edmond will commemorate his younger brother Hule, who died young, so we will have an Edmond Prize, which will only be awarded to France, and the Hule Prize will be awarded to other nationalities. ”

He can think of this instantly, because most literary awards in reality have developed in this way.

The Booker Prize has the Booker International Prize;

The Femina Prize includes the Femina International Award;

Needless to say, the Pulitzer Prize has a whole bunch of sub-awards.

Poincaré said: "What a genius idea! In this way, we are not going against the wishes of Mr. Goncourt, but at the same time we are expanding the influence of the award! ”

Verne groaned,

"Now, that's the last question."

He looked at George Bernard Shaw,

"Mr. Xiao, what do you think are the similarities and differences between English literature and French literature?"

George Bernard Shaw chuckled,

"You asked a good question."

Britain does not hold international literary prizes alone, but wants to cooperate with the Académie Française, because of the huge difference between literature.

Those who can study English literature dare not say that they know French literature,

Vice versa.

What's more, there have been too many changes and unexplained things within even a single culture.

George Bernard Shaw laughed: "In English literature, it is generally believed that good people will be rewarded and evil people will be rewarded. The same was true of the Dickens, Thackeray, and Brontë sisters. ”

The other three were amused.

Lu Shi complained: ""Wuthering Heights" is not. ”

George Bernard Shaw continued: "And France, both the good and the bad will die. Monsieur Hugo's romanticism will write about how good people die well; Balzac's realism would have written about how bad people die. ”

This is undoubtedly a joke.

"Poof!"

The two Frenchmen burst out laughing directly.

When Verne turned to land,

"Professor Lu, let's talk about it. You are both a master of English literature and a master of French literature, and you have the most right to speak. ”

Lu Shi shook his head and said: "This kind of problem can't be explained in a few words at all, even if you write a paper, I'm afraid it will take thousands of pages." Therefore, I will also choose Mr. Xiao's clever answer. ”

After saying that, he fell into deep thought,

Then he said, "I see what you mean. To put it bluntly, who is the leader of the literary awards? ”

All three nodded at the same time.

English literature and French literature are indeed different, and they naturally lead to aesthetic differences.

For example, in the creation of characters,

British people like to use the environment and behavior to set off the personality of the characters;

And the old revolutionary base has begun to play profoundly, such as Proust's stream of consciousness, familiar with self-analysis, and strong drama.

In this case,

Judging domestic awards, it's good to say that everyone does their own thing and doesn't interfere with each other.

But how do you not fight when judging international awards?

George Bernard Shaw sighed: "What's more, there are outrageously many excellent works in the international literary world, as well as Russian literature and German literature...... Especially Germans, I even suspect that all German writers are philosophers in disguise. ”

Poincaré nodded,

"Moreover, not everyone is like Professor Lu, who can create and translate by himself."

Verne said: "I have an idea. ”

George Bernard Shaw asked, "What?" ”

Verne tapped his chin with his finger and replied in thought: "Wouldn't it be enough to have a literary scholar recognized by everyone as the head of the jury?" It would be better if the person in charge was proficient in multiple Chinese languages and also created in multiple Chinese languages. ”

As soon as the words fell,

Staring - ×3

The eyes of the three of them were locked on Lu Shi.

Land Hours: ???

"Why are you looking at me with such strange eyes? I'm inexperienced, hey! ”

Verne shook his head,

"Didn't you judge last year's Verne Science Fiction Awards? So, you have experience! Don't be modest! ”

Lu Shi said again: "But I can't convince the public!" ”

Verne then retorted: "You have been named this year's winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature for so long, has anyone come out against it?" This is the best proof that you can convince the public! ”

"Ah......h

Lu Shi couldn't help but scratch his head when he heard this.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be the kind of cool male protagonist,

Moreover, it's not an ordinary cool article, it's simply the kind of brainless cool that "the three-year period has arrived, welcome the return of the Dragon King".

See that he speaks no more,

Poincaré said: "Then let's think of a name for the literary prize." First of all, Mr. Goncourt's name must be represented. ”

George Bernard Shaw took over the conversation,

"Then, the name of our king is also indispensable."

He thought to himself,

Edward VII was so fond of being slapped on the back that he must have cared about this kind of false name.

But the French thought that His Majesty the King was wise and foolish.

Verne nodded,

"Of course~of course~ adding His Majesty's name is as it should be. Is that the Edouard Goncourt Prize for Literature? ”

George Bernard Shaw groaned for a moment,

"I think we have to add a name."

They looked at Lu Shi again.

Poincaré laughed: "The Edward-Lu-Goncourt Literary Prize? A good name indeed. ”

Lu Shi was speechless.

In fact, he is not resistant to the General Literary Award.

But the eight characters haven't been skimmed yet, how can these people even think of the name of the award?

It's outrageous!

Moreover, how this award is named......

He couldn't help but complain: "I feel like a lubricant." ”

Poincaré laughs,

Professor Lu is a bit conservative when he says this. You are an old friend of the British people and the French people, a guest of honour of the British royal family, a corresponding member of the French Academy, can this be called a 'lubricant'? It's clearly a 'bridge and a link'! ”

(End of chapter)