Chapter 2 Preface to the 1929 English edition of the first part

/ Ernest Hemingway The English version of this preface is provided by Mr. Wu Qianli, a doctor who lives in the United States. I would like to express my thanks——editor.There are so many photos of Gigi in this book, you can get an idea of ​​what Gigi has been like in the past ten years.This book was written in 1929, and now Gigi is like a monument, both to herself and to the Montparnasse era.That era was definitely declared over when she—Gigi—published this book. Epochs in the calendar are measured in decades from the event on which they are based (such as the birth of Jesus or the end of a war).However, an era can end at any time.No one knows when an era will begin, at least not at the moment, and those that are important or announced from the beginning often do not last long.For example, the new era that started with Locarno.

Newspapers often appear in newspapers, and those writers often announce the beginning of an era, but people don't care at all, and these eras are not real eras.At this point, I don't think anyone would be reckless to look up a dictionary and ask how an era should be truly and accurately defined, because that would be trouble for such masterpieces.The key to such masterpieces is the use of words like western, oriental, civilized, etc., which usually don't really mean anything but are used for the sake of being useful.My personal experience is that if you stand facing north and keep your head still, your right is east and your left is west.You could write these words in large capital letters, but obviously, it doesn't make sense.

Going back to the times, another thing worth mentioning is that although no one knows when they start, everyone will know when they will end.Just like the year Gigi became a symbol and Montparnasse became a rich, prosperous, neon-lit, singing and dancing city filled with cereal and raisin-pralines or raisin fruit (use whatever you want, gent Those are our breakfasts now, folks), and there's caviar at Café Dom.Although personally, I don't think this era is so good, but this era, whether good or bad, is gone forever. Montparnasse looks like cafés and restaurants in this way, where everyone is under the observation of others.Unlike people in apartments, studios and hotel rooms, they can move in privacy.In the past, the difference between those who worked and those who didn't was that they could be seen in cafes before noon.Of course, this statement is not entirely true, because the laziest vagrants will not get up before 5 pm.Therefore, when they walked into the cafe, they would have a friendly drink with the laborers who had just got off work.And those who are tired after a long day walk into the cafe with the loneliness that is typical of writers or painters. They don't want to think about anything about their work until tomorrow. Friends and talk about unimportant things, have a drink before dinner.Of course, you may also take a sip during or after dinner, depending on your personal preference.It is also very pleasant to see Jiji after get off work.She is so pleasing to the eye.A pretty face is what makes her a work of art in the first place.She has a good figure and a pure voice, which is her usual talking voice rather than singing voice.There is no doubt that she dominated the Montparnasse era far more than Queen Victoria did over the Victorian era.

Now that era is over.The toilers, with the vagrants, drank so much that their kidneys could no longer take the burn of alcohol. And the vagrants are fine, and it turns out they have stronger kidneys.However, they still have nothing to do all day long.But the era is over. Gigi still has a charming voice.We don't have to worry about anything going wrong with her kidneys either.She came from Burgundy, the home of great wine, which produced much better wine than Illinois or Massachusetts.Her face was still as much a work of art as ever.Only now she has more to do; but if you own the photos in this book, you own the book.That's exactly what this book is about.

Those who have told me which books are great and classic works of art are now out of town, so I cannot make an intelligent judgment.But I still think Gigi's book is the best book I've read since The Huge Room.Maybe that's not telling, but if this book doesn't sound good to you, learn French and read it.There is no harm in learning French, and while reading it you will of course forget all the hardships of learning it.If you really learn French, then I recommend Gigi to you. It is not written by Julian Green or Jean Cocteau, nor is it what Americans think Written by the great French writer.Please read from the beginning to the end of the book, the last section doesn't make much sense, and it's useless to read, but you won't mind after you've finished it.

① I have never read Mr. Green's book, so this reference may be very unfair.I've been told his books are very good.So allow me to retract this advice, or rephrase it to urge you to learn French to read Gigi and Mr. Green.It's the only book I've ever written a preface to, God forbid, and the only one I'm willing to do.Translating this book would be tantamount to a crime.If you don't find anything good after reading the translation, then read it again immediately to see if there is anything better.I know that it will be thankless for anyone to translate.Just read it in its original version.

As far as I know, this book is written by a woman who has never had a room of her own.But I think part of it reminds you that there's something about it that's as good as another book about women by Daniel Defoe.If you're tired of the lady writers of the day, this is a book written by a woman who was never a lady.For ten years, as far as our age can contain, she has been a queen. Apparently, a queen is very different from a lady.