Chapter 58 Hometown of heavy snow

On October 20, 1982, Solzhenitsyn, a well-known contemporary writer, stood in front of the "Tropic of Cancer" monument in Chiayi, Taiwan and showed a happy smile. Stepping onto tropical land for the first time.” Seeing the image of Solzhenitsyn standing on the "Tropic of Cancer" moved me a lot.There is a sculpture on that small monument, which is the two lines of longitude and latitude that the earth crosses.This monument is standing on the southern plain of Taiwan, and I have passed by it several times. Every time I stand in front of it and look into the distance, I feel a warm feeling in my heart. The place where it stands is our beautiful Woshang.

Crossing this "Tropic of Cancer" and heading towards the tropics in the south is the warm home where I grew up in my childhood.In the same way, the distance to the north across the sea through the "Tropic of Cancer" is the hometown of heavy snow that grew up in my grandfather's generation.With such emotion, standing on that line is enough to cause one to linger in contemplation. The image of Solzhenitsyn standing on the Tropic of Cancer reminds me of his affection for his hometown revealed during a visit.Hiroshi Kimura, the most outstanding student of Japanese studies on Russian literature, visited the mountain villa where Solzhenitsyn lived in Vermont, USA last September. He looked out the window at the dense forest in Florida and asked Solzhenitsyn: "In winter, Is there going to be heavy snow in this area?"

Solzhenitsyn turned his gaze out of the window, stared at it for a while, and then said quietly: "Although it varies from year to year, the snow is quite heavy. You know, Russians cannot live without snow." In that interview, Solzhenitsyn also said: "When I was exiled, I always thought that I would be able to go back in two or three years. Who knows that it has been seven years in the blink of an eye. However, I am an optimist. , so I firmly believe that I will be able to go back.” Speaking of this passage, I can't help but make my thoughts run wild. Solzhenitsyn has a strong nostalgia for his Russian hometown.His "hometown under heavy snowfall" was the origin of his worries and cries. Solzhenitsyn had strong blood, tears and feelings for his people and land.As a result of his exile, he also had special care and sympathy for those who were displaced.

His exile cut off his connection with his motherland, and it was his exile that spread his sympathy and love from the land of Russia, watching the world with bright eyes, and made him "Russian Solzhenitsyn" Become the "Solzhenitsyn of the world". A long time ago, I liked Russian literature, including the works of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gorky, Gogol, etc.; even Paternak (the author) , Solzhenitsyn, I think Russian literature has a great tradition, which was bred by a vast land and a people who endured hardship. They share a strong religious atmosphere, a fraternal humanitarian spirit, and a positive idealistic temperament.

Although in that bitterly cold land, literary artists suffer setbacks from time to time, they always stand on the coldest land like giant trees.Especially since the 18th century, Russian writers, musicians, and dancers have emerged in large numbers, shining like stars. Their greatness lies in their love for people and the land, full of A strong love for the country. What kind of background a person's hometown can provide him in the future, I think reading the works of Russian writers is the most profound experience.In the past, A. Tolstoy wrote (The Course of Suffering) and "Peter the Great" when he was in exile in Paris. Solzhenitsyn, who is now in exile in the United States, wrote "Cancer Ward", "August 1914", "Month" is a record of love in their country and the voice of the suffering people.They emphasized the real Russia, where they grew up, where the snow fell.Because of their never-lost justice and conscience, Russian literature has long been a part of the most precious literary soul of mankind.

Solzhenitsyn, who spent eight years in a labor camp and survived cancer in exile, was finally exiled. To this day, he still loves the land, forests and people of his motherland passionately, and hopes to return one day. Therefore, he gave his life for his fellow man. I think this kind of nostalgia for the homeland and the strong family and country sentiment shown in the works are the most precious qualities in literature. "Suffering can create a soul with integrity." Chinese people born in modern times let Russia The works of land literature cannot be indifferent. The country has a touching ballad, which sings of its land and its misery thus:

Lake Baikal, yes mother, She warms the homeless heart, To suffer for freedom, I am wandering on the shore of Lake Baikal, To suffer for freedom, I am wandering on the shore of Lake Baikal. There are many similar songs or elegiac songs in Chinese folk songs in the past, but why has China not been able to produce modern works as extensive as Russian literature after such a long period of suffering? —October 29, 1982