As two great figures of Russian literature, there was a little-known rift between Tolstoy and Turgenev. As a contemporary, Turgenev was the guide of Tolstoy's literary path, but eventually split because of different class positions. One day in May 1861, Tolstoy and Turgenev were invited to the manor of the writer's friend Fett. During this time, a fierce debate broke the relationship between the two great writers and could not be bridged for a long time.
Turgenev
At that time, everyone was chatting together, occasionally mentioning the education of Turgenev's daughter. Turgenev thought his daughter's governess was good. He gave an example of the female teacher who, with her characteristic earnestness, advised Turgenev to give her daughter a sum of money for her to dispose of in charity, so as to cultivate her kindness. Turgenev added: "Now, this British lady asks my daughter to collect the torn clothes of the poor peasants, mend them with her own hands, and then return to the Lord." "Between the words, I appreciate this practice.
Tolstoy was always dissatisfied with aristocratic education, believing them to be hypocritical and artificial. Listening to Turgenev's words, he immediately asked, "Do you think this is a good job?" Turgenev replied: "Of course, this makes the giver more sympathetic to the poor." Tolstoy retorted: "But I think that a beautifully dressed girl with some dirty and smelly torn clothes on her knees is like playing an insincere play." Turgenev was enraged, and the two quarreled. Finally Turgenev was furious and shouted, "If you continue to speak in this tone, I will reward you with a slap..." Tolstoy immediately stood up and returned to a small station not far from his home, where he sent someone to find pistol bullets and prepare to duel with Turgenev.
Tolstoy
After Tolstoy left, Turgenev realized that he had gone too far, and he immediately wrote a letter of apology to Tolstoy. By mistake, when the letter was delivered to Tolstoy's manor, Tolstoy did not return home, but immediately wrote a sternly worded letter to Turgenev, saying: I hope for a real duel. Turgenev thought that he had apologized, and the other party was still so unforgiving, and his heart was very painful. Eventually, he offered to duel in the traditional way, with each with his own deputy...
Later, the dispute was finally settled by the persuasion of friends, but the conflict led to the rupture of the relationship between the two sides, which lasted for 17 years. After the breakup, the two people for a long time almost did not want to hear each other's names, and even the friends who persuaded them did not hesitate to break with them. But the emotions of the writer are complex. Although they swore that they would not interact with each other, they were quite attentive to each other's works. Several of Tolstoy's works were translated into French and thus entered the French world, which was translated by Turgenev, who was in Paris. Therefore, Tolstoy first became famous in Western Europe, and Turgenev was credited with great merit.
In 1878, at the age of 50, Tolstoy sent a letter of reconciliation to Turgenev, who was far away in Paris: "Recently I have been amazed and delighted in my relationship with you. I feel that I have no hostility towards you now. I am fully convinced that your hostility toward me must have disappeared sooner than I did. If so, please forgive me once and for all that I have been sorry for you. In his letter, Tolstoy also referred to Turgenev's promotion and assistance to him in the past years, writing, "Your benefits to me are innumerable. I was able to make a name for myself in the literary world thanks only to your help, and I remember how much you loved my work and myself. Perhaps, you can also find the same good memories of me, because I also had a time when I genuinely loved you. I now sincerely (if you can forgive me) to offer you all the friendship I can give..."
Turgenev also responded to Tolstoy with kindness, and he immediately wrote back to Tolstoy, "I would love to restore our previous friendship and hold the hand you extended to me." I am very happy that the misunderstanding between us has come to an end. ”
In later years, Turgenev tried his best to introduce the translation of Tolstoy's works to France and other Western countries, and through his efforts, the French translation of War and Peace was published. Turgenev also gave the monumental work to Flaubert. Before his death, Turgenev wrote to Tolstoy: "I am deeply gratified that I have the privilege of being your contemporary. ”
The letter was later confirmed to be Turgenev's masterpiece.
Author: Thunder Array Snow
Editor: Lu Shuwen
Editor-in-Charge: Xueying Wang
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Source: Wen Wei Po