Chapter 30 Elsevier and others (1)

Boswell's "Johnson's Life" and Lockhart's "Scott's Life" are considered to be models of biographical literature.A third notable achievement in this trade was Mrs. Gordon's memoirs of her father, John Wilson.This book is so charmingly and thoughtfully written that it will be of interest even to those readers who have paid little attention to and know little about that period in English literary history.During the above-mentioned period, "Christopher the Stubborn" and his companions were only following "Blackwood" Magazine. It is in this magazine that John Wilson publishes his vitriolic literary reviews under the pen name "Christopher North". The "Stubborn Christopher" mentioned above refers to John Wilson. Wilson.] is in the process of making the design drawing.

I think it an intriguing fact that three of the greatest world-famous biographies were written by Scotsmen.It has long been fashionable to sneer at the so-called "Scottish dullness".Yet how miserable our literature would be today were it not for the genius of the Scotsmen in every branch of literature, and for the contribution of those whom we have ridiculed so much. John Wilson was one of the funniest celebrities in an age of scarce knowledge.He was a man of men, and even in this vitriolic age men of genius doff their hats to his name.His versatility is astonishing, and with equal aptitude and luck he can juggle a literary seminar and a cockfight, a theological debate and a fishing expedition, a historical or political inquiry and a group brawl.

Nature gave him a mighty mind on a mighty body.He possessed a physique capable of any action his brilliant intellect suggested.The unbelievable feat of walking seventy miles in a day was child's play to him.Thus, when the printer yelled, he shut himself up in his awe-inspiring study, chanting from the manuscript until the printer yelled, "Stop, stop, that's enough!" It is not uncommon for him to write for thirteen hours in one breath.He worked when he worked and played when he played, which is probably why he was never a dull boy. Wilson seemed to be a procrastinator, putting off his assignments until the very last moment.It is a common habit of those who work in literature--indeed, it is encouraged by those who have been regarded as authorities in such matters since ancient times.Ringelbergerus once gave this advice to a writer under his mentorship:

"Tell the printer," he said, "to get ready for a work you're about to write, and never to be alarmed by it, even if it hasn't been written yet. After you've announced it, you can never Effortlessly picture in your own mind the general idea of ​​your work and its chapters before writing the arguments of each chapter. I can assure you that in this way you will be able to supply the printers with manuscripts every day , more than they could have hoped for. Remember, though, that once you have started you cannot languish until your work is finished." For its fidelity, there is no instance of human admiration and praise comparable to that of Sheldon Mackenzie There are "Dickens Biography" and so on. ] Devotion to Wilson's genius.To Mackenzie, we should be grateful for his edited "Scent of the Night".A work edited with such vision, such genius, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, it will, in my opinion, endure as a monument, not only to Wilson, but also to McCann Memorial of Qi's genius.

I have noticed one peculiarity in which many admirers of "Scent of the Night" can be recognized: they rarely bother to read anything else.In The Night, they will find a response to every emotional need.This situation is quite similar to that of Father Prout's lovers.Dr. Aurel divided his adoration among old Christopher North and the Saint of Waterweed Hill.It's bad enough to be addicted to either, and a man who has both "Fragrance of the Night" and "Relics of Old English Poetry" is incurably ill!Dr. Aurel's obsession with the stubborn Christopher and Father Percy was so great that he not only bought every copy of The Night and The Remains he came across, but insisted on Give a copy of these books to everyone you know.I even know that he also prescribes one or the other of these works to his patients.

I remember once, at a book auction, I met a volume of Elsevier [Louis Elsevier (1540-1617), the founder of a famous printing house in the Netherlands, and a printing and publishing house of ancient books. ] edition of the book, I fell into a depression so severe that I had to stay in bed at home.After my doctor came, as usual, he made a detailed inquiry about my condition and the cause of the disease.Finally, Dr. Orel said: "Fortunately, the depression you are suffering from is currently limited to Pagioni's depression of the left parietal region. I will give you Father Prout's Tom Moore's Prank ’ and the famous debate between Christopher North and Etrick’s shepherds. There is no more potent medicine.”

In fact, such therapy has been beneficial to me.Within forty-eight hours, I was up and out of the house.And, what could be better than picking at a bookstall for a ballad book, a first edition of God Bless New England. By no means, however, did I quite cease to lament the loss of that volume of Elsevier, which to me is one of the most pleasing things.In the respected Aldous [Aldous Manutirus (1450-1515), an Italian scholar and printer, founded the famous Arden Press in Venice (about 1498), publishing Greek Classical works in English and Latin. ] in his biography, Renoard said: "Few of those who respect beautiful editions and pay high prices for them know that the fonts that delight them so much are those of Francis Garamond [plus Ramón (1480?-1561), French typeface designer, famous for creating the standard typographic Roman typeface.], which he cast in Paris a hundred years ago."