Аннотация: The pause in the my Internet access (September 9-10, 2022). A (phone) pranksters and hackers. A diary note.
Chapter 9. Publish (your works)!
"Publish!" ("Write! Publish!"), as the law of success, is recognized (is discovered) as a result of familiarization with the life stories of Heinrich Schliemann, Nikolai Gogol, Alexei Peshkov.
What does 'publish' mean? This means (a) understand what to write about, (b) be able to write (in the sense: be able to think more or less coherently and express your thoughts in the form of text) ('Telling and writing are two very different things; a thought (as well as a word) not so fastly is putting (is placing) (is situating) under a writing pen [Смирнова-Россет А. О. C. 569] [Smirnova-Rosset A. O. P. 569];" No one can learn to write smoothly and captivatingly; this ability is given by a nature, but not through a learning "(Nikolai Gogol) (See: [Вересаев] [Veresaev]) ), (c) have the courage and determination [fortitude] to present what you have written for reading and for possible discussion, for a criticism, (d) be morally, organizationally and financially prepared for the possible need to pay for publication.
Nikolai Gogol implemented this law of success. But his "ability" for "publishing" (of his works) was carried out (was developing) in a more gradual and organic way (when compared with Heinrich Schliemann and Alexei Peshkov). As a child, he was familiar with the writer Vasily Kapnist; Vasily Afanasyevich Gogol possessed a literary gift; the gymnasium encouraged - albeit amateur - literary creativity. A number of teachers and fellow practitioners - some during the period of being in the gymnasium of Nikolai Gogol, some already in subsequent years - showed themselves as authors of literary works. Of course, everyone had their own (individual) level of talents.
Nevertheless, as a person capable of writing coherently and presenting what was written to the public, Nikolai Gogol matured (was rising) organically, gradually.
Heinrich Schliemann is another matter. For him, a man who left commerce in adulthood and planned to accomplish the unattainable in the field of archeology, the "ability" for "publishing" (of own works) was a critical issue. The ability to write (to describe the results of archaeological works and the achievements), and most importantly, publish what was written, was one of the keys to success. Without this ability, he either would not have become successful and famous at all, or would have remained an indistinguishable figure, perhaps perceived with shades of pity or comicality.
Moving along the path of success, being a Russian merchant at that time, Heinrich Schliemann wrote in one of his letters on the eve of 1857: "... I have only the ability of memorization. My memory helps me, (...) to be able to compose at least a little myself, I cannot do this and, unfortunately, I will never come to this ..." [Гаврилов А. К. С. 122] [Gavrilov A. K. P. 122].
Having decided to drastically change his life, Heinrich Schliemann did not so much indulge in doubts and reflections, but began to act. Outcome: 10 published books [Вандерберг. С. 587] [Vanderberg. P. 587].
For example, on July 24, 1870, Heinrich Schliemann wrote to his son Sergei: 'Never a single merchant in St. Petersburg could write a scientific book, while I wrote one that was translated into 4 languages and is the subject of universal admiration' [Богданов И. А., 2008 б. С. 129] [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 b. P. 129].
Heinrich Schliemann: "... I will write books all my life ... Anyone who writes books is happy, satisfied, focused [on a creativity]..." [Богданов И. А., 2008 б. С. 124] [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 b. P. 124].
Despite the fact that in his youth, Nikolai Gogol developed a literary skill, the first publications became an important moment on the path of a common and literary success. Who was Nikolai Gogol after graduating from gymnasium [school], arriving in St. Petersburg and before his first publications? (Note that according to one of the versions, the first publication took place almost immediately after his arrival in St. Petersburg; the poem "Italy" is supposed to be among the first (such) works). He was an unsuccessful official in a difficult financial situation. After the first publications (although the romantic idyll "Gantz Kuchelgarten" was burnt), Nikolai Gogol was "directed" along two trajectories (a) from Pavel Svinyin to Lev Perovski and Vladimir Panaev (a version), (b) from Orest Somov and Anton Delvig to Vasily Zhukovsky, Mikhail Vielgorsky, Alexander Pushkin (clarifications are possible) ...
We can discuss the details of Nikolai Gogol's life trajectories in this period, but the movement was obvious. It also became easier financially: a new circle of people - educated, outstanding, talented ones - not only guided [directed] creatively, but also helped organizationally.
Yu. V. Mann writes about 1830: 'And the first Gogol prose work 'Bisavryuk, or Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala. Little Russian story (from folk tradition), told by the deacon of the Intercession Church" appeared in the February and March books of the magazine without a signature. This story, apparently, opened for Gogol the door to a new service - in the Department of Appanages. Gogol wrote to his mother that he "owes his present place to his own labors." And later: "... one of my articles brought me the place I now occupy." At that time, various works were called "article", including fiction (story, story, etc.), so Gogol could also mean his "Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala". In this case, for the first time in his experience, he was convinced of the power of the influence of the writer's word, which able, even, to bring an immediate, practical benefit' [Манн Ю. В. С. 183] [Mann Yu. V. P. 183].
'... The petition to Perovsky [Perovski] was filed on March 27, 1830. On the same day, the petition was signed by the head of the II department, Vladimir Panaev. (...) Panaev, by the way, is not only an official, but also a well-known writer, author of numerous idylls - 'a very good person, whom I truly respect in my heart' '... [Манн Ю. В. С. 184] [Mann Yu. V. P. 184].
'The document signed by Paul I, the so-called 'Establishment', stated that the Ministry of Appanages is directly subordinate to the highest authority (...)
Dmitry Troshchinsky, who was (in 1802-1806) the fourth minister of this institution, officially objected to the intervention of the common administration autorities [into the competence of the Ministry of Appanages].
The direct dependence on the tsar court, closeness to the tsar, the opportunity, as they say today, to "go out" up to the tsar - all this should have been to Gogol's liking '[Манн Ю. В. С. 185] [Mann Yu. V. P. 185].
There appeared private lessons, a job of a teacher ... Such an environment somehow contributed more to the writing of "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka" than to work as a scribe in the department. "Evenings ..." brought fame, recognition of talent. "The Government Inspector" and "Dead Souls" are a recognition of genius. "Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends" drew criticism from various angles, but public still read them, discuss, analyze ...
Note that the fate of Nikolai Gogol puts for consideration the possibility of the existence of a "reverse" law of success: (do not publish, but) "to Realize in time that what has been written is a superfluous." However, if we consider the fate of the (burnt) second part of "Dead Souls", then we must admit that the first part existed before the second part. And before the first part - "The Government Inspector", and even earlier "Evenings ..." (it is probably inappropriate to list all the works of Nikolai Gogol here). And the second part of "Dead Souls" did not disappear completely: a memories, drafts remained...
A small addition regarding the importance of publications for the life trajectory of Nikolai Gogol.
On March 27, 1830 Nikolai Gogol sent an application for admission to the staff of the Ministry of Appanages. February-March 1830 - publication of "'Bisavryuk, or Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala". However, from November 15, 1829 to February 25, 1830 Nikolai Gogol managed to work (to serve) in the Department of State Economy and Public Buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Apparently at this place of work, he showed himself in a non-negative way, "showed" himself, and it is easier to help (to) a person, who "proven himself"; as a result, not only publications, but also family ties could work; however, (family) ties - by themselves - would hardly have been able to introduce him into the circle of Vasily Zhukovsky and Alexander Pushkin (on this "trajectory", first of all, not ties (connections), but publications were required).
'... Schliemann did not stay long in the Land of the Rising Sun. A small English steamer took him to San Francisco.
The move lasted fifty days. On the way, Schliemann recalled a long-standing conversation with an English acquaintance. Schliemann talked about his first American trip. When he reached the meeting of the Congress, Schliemann, word for word, repeated Lajos Kossuth's speech to his interlocutor. [Lajos Kossuth - the governor-president of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848-1849]. Struck by the Schliemann's strength of memory, the Englishman exclaimed:
- You are ashamed to repeat other people's speeches! You have enough ability to pronounce and write your own.
Since then, Schliemann has been especially careful to keep a diary. But it would be ridiculous to publish these writings: who is interested in the diary of an ordinary person?
Now it's another matter. He traveled all over the world, he saw a lot and learned a lot. A travel diary in China and Japan can find supportive readers. On the day the shores of America appeared on the horizon, a manuscript of a book lay in Schliemann's briefcase. The book was written in French - it made no difference to him which language to write in! " [Мейерович М. Л. С. 63] [Meyerovich M. L. P. 63].
Should tradition or perfectionism (striving for excellence) be allowed to become an obstacle to publication?
Heinrich Schliemann's keeping of diaries [journaling], the writing letters by him were transformed into the writing of books. 'In 1869, a book was published simultaneously in Paris and Leipzig, which caused an explosion of indignant ridicule in the scientific world. Everything about this book aroused prejudice [bias, rejection], starting with the heretical statements that filled every page of it, and ending with the absence of an academic title in front of the author's name. The title of the book was 'Ithaca, Peloponnese and Troy. Archaeological research by Heinrich Schliemann' [Ithaka, der Peloponnes und Troja Archäologische Forschungen]. It was a travel diary, abundantly filled with various scholarly digressions and references. The author undertook the task of refuting almost all the data of ancient Greek archeology. (...) It is interesting that most of the statements against Schliemann's book contained not criticism of his statements, but mockery of his blind faith in Homer, in tradition, in the materiality of legends. They ridiculed his arrogant "I": the whole book is emphatically written in his own name. They ridiculed his childhood fascination with fairy tales' [Мейерович М. Л. С. 82] [Meyerovich M. L. P. 82].
About the transformation of Nikolai Gogol's letters into his book "Selected Passages from Correspondence with Friends" Igor Zolotussky writes: "He decided to publish his letters, and these were purely family letters, personal, private, intimate. The 'Selected Places' were opened by [with] Gogol's 'Will', and not by a literary, conditional testament (...), but by a direct testament of a person who confesses before death and gives orders about his property, debts, etc.
Before Gogol nobody a such frankness - in Russian literature - did not allow himself. Pushkin in his letters is not at all the same as Gogol: for him, correspondence with loved ones is not literature, but everyday life, Pushkin still adheres to the traditional classical idea of literature as pure creativity, where the creator transforms, preserving himself, appears under different names.
Gogol, as it were, tears off this last veil of convention: he comes out with his naked soul, allows the reader into his mental life' [Золотусский И. П.] [Zolotussky I. P.].
The examples given show that in a number of cases, doubts (about the value, relevance, prospects of a positive reception by the public, scientists, critics, etc.) were resolved by both Heinrich Schliemann and Nikolai Gogol in favor of publication. What helped them make such decisions? Calculation? Intuition? Insight (vision)? Foresight?
Let us draw the attention of the dear Reader to several cases of burning of his works by Nikolai Gogol. Maybe these cases are the result of insight, of sagacity?
The extensive archive of Heinrich Schliemann probably contains works in relation of which he refrained from publishing.
Above was mentioned the case of Heinrich Schliemann's publication of a book based on diaries. It is possible (as a version) that Heinrich Schliemann destroyed a part of the diary (characterizing Heinrich Schliemann's diary entries during his travel from October 01 to December 14, 1846 from St. Petersburg to Western Europe and back, Igor Bogdanov writes: "Schliemann was keeping a diary on the way back, but for some reason (and it is not known by whom) the pages of this diary were deleted [cutted out]..." [Богданов И. А., 2008 б. С. 116] [Bogdanov I. A., 2008 b. P. 116]).
Summing up the presentation of this topic here, we additionally note that both Heinrich Schliemann and Nikolai Gogol did not stop, in certain cases, before publishing their works at their own expense. [Манн Ю. В. С. 157] [Mann Yu. V. P. 157] [Вандерберг. С. 208] [Vanderberg. P. 208].
Apparently, each of them for each such specific case had reason (experience? Intuition?) to believe that the benefits of publication outweigh the costs.
Maxim Gorky went to a writer success for a long time, in a sense - organically. While still very young, he felt the need for a written presentation of his knowledge and impressions.
'It became more and more difficult in the shop, I [already] read all the church books, I was no longer carried away by the arguments and conversations of the nachetchiks, they all said about the same thing. [nachetchik начетчик - well-read, learned man] [nachetchik начетчик - a person who regularly reads sacred texts] [nachetchik начетчик - a person who regularly reads texts - according of a tradition] Only Peter Vasiliev still attracted me with his knowledge of dark [side of] human life, with his ability to speak interestingly and passionately. Sometimes I thought that this is how the prophet Elisha walked the earth, alone and vengeful. (...) (...) Once I told this old man that sometimes I write down his speeches in a notebook, where I have already written down various poems, various thoughts from books; this frightened the nachetchik very much, he quickly swayed towards me and began to ask anxiously:
- Why are you? You is a not good little boy! For memory? No, it's not a right behaviour! What are you, after all! Give me these notes, eh?
He persuaded me for a long time and persistently to give him the notebook or burn it, and then began to whisper angrily with the clerk [salesman - store owner assistant]. "
A moral support is "powerful": "You is a not good little boy!" "Give me these notes, eh?"
'Through the 'unreliable' [disloyal to the regime, people under suspicion] who had already served on the railway, Aleksey got a job as a night watchman at the Dobrinka station (in the Tambov province). In addition to his official duties, he, as was customary at that time, was forced to do housework at the station bosses - chop and carry firewood, heat the stoves, look after the horse, etc. There was no time to sleep and read. Alexei could not resist and wrote a complaint to the board of the road ... in verse. This amused the officials, and the young man was transferred to Borisoglebsk, then to the Krutaya station ' [Нефедова И. М.] [Nefedova I. M.].
The practical benefits of literary skills!
At some point in life, it was necessary to take a decisive step and carry out the publication of what was written.
"In my sack I had a notebook of poems and an excellent poem in prose and verse "The Song of the Old Oak"". 'After a while I was arrested and put in one of the four towers of the Nizhny Novgorod prison. (...) I was taken for interrogation to General Poznansky himself, and here he is, slapping his crimson, swollen hand on the papers taken from me, and snoring:
- You write poetry here and in general ... Well, write. Good poetry is a pleasure to read ...
I, too, became pleased to know that certain truths are available to the general. I did not think that the epithet "good" refers specifically to my poems. But at the same time, not all intellectuals could agree with the gendarme's aphorism about poetry. (...)
- What kind of revolutionary are you? He said scornfully. - (...) Now, when I release you, - show your manuscripts to Korolenko, - are you familiar with him? No? he is a serious writer, no worse than Turgenev ... (...)
One day, it was a difficult day, I finally decided to show my poem to Vladimir Korolenko. (...)
Two weeks later, the red-haired statistician Dryagin - sweet and smart - brought me the manuscript ...
On the cover of the manuscript it is written in pencil, in sharp handwriting:
'It is difficult to judge about your abilities by 'The Song', but it seems that you have them. Write about anything you experienced and show me. I am not a connoisseur of poetry, yours seemed incomprehensible to me, although some lines are strong and bright. Vl. Kor. ".
Not a word about the content of the manuscript. What did this strange man read in it? (...) I tore up the poems and the manuscript, put them in a burning stove, and, sitting on the floor, thought: - what does it mean to write about "anything I experienced"?
I have experienced everything was written in the poem ...
(...) I decided not to write any more poetry or prose and, indeed, during my entire life in Nizhny - for almost two years - I did not write anything. And - sometimes - I really wanted to.
With great sorrow I offered my wisdom as a sacrifice to the purifying fire. (...)
On a summer night, I was sitting on the "Slope" ['Откос' 'otkos' "Escarpment"], the high bank of the Volga, from where the desert meadows of the Trans-Volga region can be clearly seen and through the branches of the trees - the river. Imperceptibly and inaudibly on the pew, next to me, Vladimir Korolenko appeared ...
- Well, you write?
- No.
- Why?
- I have no time ...
- It's a pity and in vain. If you wanted, there would be time. I seriously think - it seems that you have the ability ... "
Gradually, Maxim Gorky's indecision passed, and publications began.
1892. The first story of the writer - is 'Makar Chudra' in the newspaper 'Kavkaz' ["Caucasus"].
'... The story 'Makar Chudra' under the pseudonym 'Maxim Gorky' appeared in the newspaper 'Kavkaz' on September 12, 1892. (...) Over the next five years, filled with continuous work, he became the most famous writer in Russia' [Быков Д. Л.] [Bykov D. L.].
For several years, Maxim Gorky made a career: Handyman - clerk - traveler - (well-known, financially secure) writer.
'And he began wandering without a goal,
Subordinate only to a sense;
And journeys, they are bored to him,
Like everything in the world;
He came back and,
Like Chatsky, got off the ship to the ball." (Alexander Pushkin "Eugene Onegin", Novel in verse)
'Since February 1895, Gorky has been living in Samara. Here he became a professional writer, entered the "big literature": the sixth book of the magazine "Russian wealth", known in those years, in 1895 placed at first position the Gorky's work "Chelkash" "[Нефедова И. М.] [Nefedova I. M.].
"An evil legislator of the world of theater,
A fickle adorer of
A charming actresses,
A honorary Citizen of a theatre's backstages,
Onegin flew towards the theater ... " (Alexander Pushkin "Eugene Onegin", Novel in verse)
'Gorky's fame as a playwright began with his first play, "The Bourgeoisie" ['Мещане'] (1900-1901), staged at the Moscow Art Theater [Московский Художественный театр].
'The Art Theater is as good and significant as the Tretyakov Gallery, Vasily the Blessed and all the best in Moscow. Not to love him is impossible, not to work for him is a crime ... '- wrote Gorky to Chekhov' [Нефедова И. М.] [Nefedova I. M.].
'Since 1900, 32-year-old Gorky is already a Russian classic writer. So few people in our literature were lucky' [Быков Д. Л.] [Bykov D. L.].
"" There was a desire to destroy half of what was written, "admitted Gorky in 1930" [Нефедова И. М.] [Nefedova I. M.].
The law "Publish!" was realized by Heinrich Schliemann in the XIX century, Maxim Gorky - in the XIX and XX centuries. But let's not be primitive, or - at least - too primitive.